The Natural Enemies Of Lumber

People use lumber as the building material thousands of years. It is reliable and easily machinable. But being the natural building material, wood has lots of enemies.

The natural enemies of building lumber

Apart from the weather conditions like sun, wind, freezing or acid rains, the most dangerous are the biological enemies of wood.

Ligniperdous (wood attacking and destroying) insects

The ligniperdous insects lay their eggs onto the outer surface of the lumber but their worms consume the lumber logs from the inside, enfeeble the wood and so decrease it´s usability as the building material (hardness, firmness, natural flexibility).

Among the most dangerous ligniperdous insects belong the (worms of) Ambrosia beetles (Platypodidae, Scolytidae), Bark borer beetles (Ernobius mollis), Longicorn beetles (Cerambyx cerdo), Common furniture beetles (Anobium punctatum), Oak bark beetles (Scolytus intricatus), Death watch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum), Powder post beetle (Lyctus brunneus) or the House longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus).

The decay fungi (woodrot fungi)

The decay fungi are the second most dangerous enemies of building lumber. They can appear anywhere on the wood if it is in wet and cold environment. Their spawn can even grow through the walls and so reach quite distant areas in you house (for example the fungus can grow from the exterior wall to the cellar in just few weeks).

Among the most dangerous belong the Dry rot fungus (Serpula lacrymans) and the Wet rot fungus (Coniophora puteana).

Mildew

The mildew feed on organic materials and you can often find them in interiors on furniture, interior textile or natural siding. They can be easily distinguished by black, green or yellow spots (often concentrated in one place) and dank smell. The mildew produce some toxic chemicals that can cause allergic reactions or even poisoning if consumed.