Termite infestation can usually be detected by inspecting paneling and millwork in a home.
Boring bugs are insects that like to poke holes in wood, tree bark, woody vapors, leaves, and other parts of trees, shrubs, and plants. They can be a serious problem in the garden and around the home, and are found in every corner of the world, with hundreds of species of common nuisance bugs infesting everything from grape roots to books. Once these members of the insect world take hold, they can be very difficult to dislodge, making infestation prevention a top priority for people who want to avoid damage from these insects.
Both adult insects and larvae can engage in tedious activities.
Some nuisance bugs actively feed on the materials they feed on, while others dig holes to live or lay eggs. Adult bugs and larvae can engage in boring activities, and as boring bugs settle in and begin to reproduce, they can create a population that will continue to grow with each reproductive cycle, causing the damage to spread very quickly. In some cases, the damage is difficult to detect or invisible because it occurs below the surface, while other insects leave obvious traces of their presence.
Some species are attracted to trees and plants that are already sick or diseased. These insects take advantage of the weakened state of the plant and can accelerate the damage, making it difficult for the plant to recover. Others colonize perfectly healthy plants and trees. Signs of a nuisance insect infestation include yellowing and drooping leaves, pitting and scarring on trunks and branches, thick plant secretions caused by penetrating deep into the plant, or obvious signs of insect activity on the plant.
In addition to colonizing living trees and plants, boring insects also attack wood and wood products such as books, fences, decks, and houses. This type of damage can sometimes be very difficult to detect on the surface. Over time, the pests cause softening and collapse, meanwhile spreading to other potential sources of food or nesting material in the area.
Some examples of nuisance insects include termites, powdercoat beetles, longhorn beetles, carpenter ants, and Asian longhorned beetles. Controlling these pests involves keeping homes and yards as clean as possible, discarding or sequestering dead organic material such as pruned tree limbs, and monitoring vulnerable wood, trees, and plants for early signs of infestation. If the insects take hold, the infected material should be carefully removed and disposed of to discourage spread to other areas.