Drywood termites differ from subterranean termites in many ways. For one, they don't need moisture to survive. For another, they prefer to infest pieces of furniture rather than the structural beams and supports of a home that subterranean termites love so much. And outdoor furniture, especially, is at risk from drywood termites.
But if you tend to favour wooden furniture over other materials, you might be wondering what type of wooden furniture drywood termites prefer. Interestingly, drywood termites do have specific types of furniture that they tend to infest.
Unpainted Furniture
Drywood termites like to infest furniture by squeezing into crevices and cracks. This is what makes unpainted pieces of furniture susceptible to infestation. There is nothing to stop a pair of drywood termites from penetrating the furniture between two overlapping pieces of wood. However, painted wood offers more protection because the paint covers cracks and crevices, keeping termites from getting inside.
Cracked Furniture
As mentioned above, drywood termites tend to infiltrate furniture via cracks, holes or points where two pieces of wood overlap. If your wooden furniture is cracked in places, then it is susceptible to drywood termite infestation. Consider sealing cracks in your furniture with some putty or wood filler. Although this might affect the beauty of your wooden furniture, it will prevent drywood termites from infesting it.
Complicated Pieces of Furniture
Furniture that has many pieces of overlapping wood is also a favourite of the drywood termite. This means that complicated pieces of furniture are at risk of infestation. If you any of the following wooden furniture, beware of drywood termites:
- Cabinets
- Tables
- Armchairs
- Wardrobes
- Dressers
Furniture With Exposed End Grain
Wooden furniture with exposed end grain, which is where the growth rings are exposed, is also vulnerable to drywood termite infestation. End grain wood has small imperfections that allow drywood termites to infiltrate a piece of wooden furniture.
Hire a Pest Inspector to Remove Termites From Furniture
If you have found evidence of a drywood termite infestation, you can save your wooden furniture by hiring a pest exterminator. A pest exterminator can kill the drywood termites infesting your furniture by injecting an insecticide into the areas where the termites are nesting and feeding.
Your termite inspector can also ensure that other pieces of furniture in your home are termite-free. Are you worried that your wooden furniture might contain termites? Then hire termite extermination services. They can kill the termites infesting your furniture and advise you on how best to prevent infestations in future.
