Hey, wait a second! That's MY armchair! -- Here's what you can do to reclaim your recliner when Drywood Termites or other wood-destroying insects take over the sitting room.
Since non subterranean wood destroyers like drywood and dampwood termites, and powder post beetles are able to live above the ground without ever having contact with the soil, these unpleasant pests often hitch a ride on infested furniture or other wooden objects to geographic areas where they would not generally be found.
True to their name, Drywood termites prefer to live in dry, non-decaying wood. They also don't require an excessive moisture content to survive unlike their subterranean cousins, making it more likely that you'll encounter drywood termites in furniture than other types of termites.
Signs of Infested Furniture
One tell-tale sign of a Drywood Termite infestation is the presence of piles of tiny, light- to golden-brown colored fecal pellets that accumulate inside or beneath infested furniture. These pellets are expelled from tiny termite holes in furniture and fall out of their internal galleries (the tunnels they create), gathering on the surface of the wood or surrounding area. You can recognize Drywood Termite feces by its elongated shape rounded on either side, and its six flattened surfaces all around.
Learn more from our drywood termite inspection guide.
DIY Furniture Termite Treatment
Once you've confirmed you have a drywood termite problem, the next step is how to kill termites in your furniture. We recommend using a wood insecticide and preservative such as Bora-Care or Timbor. If the furniture is painted, sealed, or varnished, it will need to be stripped bare before using these products. The chemical that you choose should be sprayed directly to the infested surface and allowed to penetrate the wood. (Always read the product label for specific instrution before application). The treatment should kill all active termites or beetles and last the life of the wood.
- BORACARE: Provides prevention and control of Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powderpost Beetles and Wood Decay Fungi.
- Timbor: A wood preservative for the protection and treatment of lumber against fungal decay and wood destroying insects.
For more information on treating infestations, read our guide on How to Get Rid of Drywood Termites for details on full home treatment and prevention.