The brown lycte, wood-devouring
In Quebec, several insects parasitize wood. One of the most detestable is the brown lycte. It devours wooden equipment, attacks frames, floors and threatens house structures.
For this insect, it doesn’t matter whether the wood is waxed, varnished or painted, it infests and colonizes our homes. How can we avoid being attacked by such a devastating insect? How do I know he’s being asked? Animal alert your professional exterminator in Montreal informs you with professional answers.
| Nom français | Lycte brun et Lycte ligné |
| Nom anglais | Powderpost Beetle et European lyctus Beetle |
| Nom latin | Lyctus brunneus et Lyctus linearis |
| Classe | Insectes |
| Ordre | Coléoptères |
| Famille | Bostrichidés |
Brown lycte infestation: description?
The brown lycte is an insect of the beetle family, family of bostrichids and subfamily of Lyctinae.
The lyctus brunneus has a very thin and flattened body. It is 2 mm to 8 mm long depending on the species. Its color is reddish brown to black. Its head has small antennae and is darker than the rest of its body.
Lifecycle of the brown lycte?
The brown lycte is a holometabolic invertebrate (insects that have complete metamorphoses and whose adult form is always preceded by a motionless nymphal stage).
From egg to larva
After mating, the female lays 20 to 50 eggs in the wood fibres. Within 2 weeks, the larvae emerge from the eggs.
The duration of larval development varies depending on the environmental conditions. Ideally, the place is well heated (between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius) and the humidity is high (between 40% and 60%).
The larva is recognizable by its cream colour. She’s got three pairs of legs. It can measure up to 6mm long depending on the species. She’s a little bent.
From nymph to adult
It is xylophagous, that is, it feeds on wood (the essence of the vein). It takes him two to four weeks to turn into a nymph.
Once adult, the male of the brown lycte has a longevity of about 2 months, while that of the female is 4 months. Some species can go up to a year.
Appeler René Gélinas Votre exterminateur local, Expérience et intégrité dans la gestion parasitaire
Tel 514 830 2819
Brown lycte is a wood pest
In the wild, the larva of the brown lycte consumes wood species. It feeds on wood species, it generally consumes:
- The aubier,
- deciduous species,
- Oak
- Chestnut
- Ash trees
- Poplar
- big capillary woods
- exotic woods with starch content.
He also loves the starch, sugar and protein he finds in the sap of hard trees containing 10% to 20% moisture.
In houses, the larva of the brown lycte makes holes in the woodworked:
- Cornices
- door frames or
- old plinths,
- massive furniture,
- Floors
- Moldings
- Floors
- Beams.
It builds canals resembling highways.
These holes are about 0.8 to 1.5 mm. Because of them, these furniture, frames, etc., are weakened. And the problem is all the more important because the brown lycte welcomes several of its generations in your wooden equipment. They are born, develop and invadeyou.
In the end, the brown lycte can destroy even the foundation of your home and its support beams.
Unfortunately, by the time you realize all this damage, it is often too late. The presence of the larva is almost undetectable and the brown lycte does not emerge from the wood until it is matured.
Tips to avoid brown lycte damage
Fight the devourer of your wooden equipment.
It is absolutely necessary to:
- Frequently examine contaminated areas to prevent the presence and proliferation of brown lyctes,
- Mastering the humidity and temperature of your home,
- Wax or varnish its antlers to prevent adult females from laying eggs.
If you fail to use these methods or if they do not prove effective, if you can, do as museums and art galleries do: frequently put your wooden equipment in the freezers. Wood-eating larvae do not withstand such treatment!
Another tip: when buying wood for your floor or frame, carefully examine each piece. If you find one with holes, get rid of it. These parasites may already be there.
Eliminate this insect from your home
The brown lycte exterminator goes through 2 steps to effectively eliminate these large wood eaters:
Step1: Preparatory phases
- Survey of all woods
The exterminator carefully probes all the woods in the house. Its goal: to detect all areas infested with brown lycte
- Buchage of devoured parts
Here, the exterminator will clog all the devoured areas in order to eliminate the vermoulu parts and lay bare the une infectedwood. After completing this work, it will tell you which woods need to be processed and called by a carpenter.
- Brushing and dusting
Here, the exterminator dusts and brushes all the galleries dug by the fine lycte. Thus, once the insecticide is applied, it will penetrate properly into all the areas to be protected.
Step2: The Treatment Phase
Here, the exterminator treats your wood equipment with an insecticide or biocide that stops the development of larvae and prevents new clutches. How does he do it?
It applies the product twice in the holes, either by injecting it or by spraying it with a brush on all the partitions of your wooden equipment.
Note that the exterminator can also destroy brown lyctes by irradiating them. It can freeze infected pieces of wood.
Finally, it will use micro synthesis in capsules to permanently eliminate brown lycte from your home.
Some exterminators will go up to 3 treatments to ensure complete destruction of brown lycte larvae.
Beware, this work is delicate, it requires the touch of a true professional exterminator of brown lycte. You only have to forget a single wood infested with brown lycte to end up with a new epidemic.
Choose your professional exterminator carefully
In general, it is recognized as follows:
- He shows you his license from the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development with the inscription C5: Extermination. Therefore, it will destroy these undesirable occupants in compliance with Environment Canada’s regulations regarding people and pets.
- It values professionalism and quality.
- Use of certified technicians in extermination and parasitic management.
- Quick descent to the scene of theattack to make sure it’s the brown lyctes, analyze the intensity of theattack and find the source.
- Choosing an appropriate treatment for the invasion of these wood devourers.
- Training, information and awareness of clients to take steps to avoid being attacked forever by these detestable insects.
- He is discreet in his interventions. For example, it uses unidentified vehicles.
- It provides you with a written guarantee against any damage that could result from the means used for extermination and on the effectiveness of its treatment against the aggression you suffer.
Here you know: you know more about the lycte pest of wood, if you face this insect, call us.
