Deathwatch Beetle

Small round exit holes in wood surfaces, fine powdery wood-dust (frass) beneath furniture or timber, a hollow sound when tapped, and — in active infestations — blistered or crumbling wood surfaces.

Deathwatch Beetle bores into and feeds on wood, and can cause serious structural or cosmetic damage to furniture, flooring and timber structures, often first noticed as small exit holes and fine wood-dust (frass).

Affected timber typically needs treatment with a wood-preservative/borer-control chemical (surface application or injection) by a licensed applicator, and severely damaged structural members may need replacement; treating new timber during construction prevents most cases.

Deathwatch Beetle is tracked by bharatpest across 2 sectors in our Pest Guide, including Furniture Industry, Plywood / Timber / Wood Industry — see the full list below for sector-specific guidance.

Basic prevention — sanitation, moisture control and sealing likely entry points — is something anyone can do. For an established Deathwatch Beetle infestation, a licensed pest control operator (PCO) can carry out a proper inspection and a targeted treatment programme, which is usually far more reliable than an over-the-counter product used alone.

Yes — see the Products section above for genuine, currently stocked options.