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Ecological woodworm removal: scientific evidence on its effectiveness

2022-03-14 Dott.sa Carla Petta posted:

We have often talked in our blog about the ecological woodworm service proposed by Gallura Disinfestazioni, analyzing the characteristics and the life cycle of woodworms, focusing on the reasons that lead to prefer the ecological woodworm service with heat.

Woodworms are xylophagous insects (they feed on wood) and during their life cycle they develop 4 life stages: egg, larva, adult pupa. In the state of larva they dig tunnels that cause structural damage in the wooden artefacts. The ecological anti-woodworm treatment with heat is the only decisive treatment as, unlike chemical treatments, it eradicates the woodworm in any vital stage it is. By bringing the infested artifact to a temperature between 50 ° and 60 ° and keeping it constant, we are sure to eliminate the woodworms present inside that will die due to the denaturation of protein substances.

In the table below, extrapolated from a study carried out by the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, we can see how temperatures affect the life of insects. The temperatures that cause the death of insects within a few minutes are indicated in the red boxes. We go from extremely cold temperatures (from -15 ° to -25 °), however difficult to reach and keep constant, to very hot temperatures (around 60 °) which are the ones we reach and we manage to keep constant with our anti-woodworm treatment.

grafico-temperature

By reaching these temperatures, the ecological woodworm service with heat is able to eradicate the woodworms and also, as mentioned above, is the only one capable of eliminating them in any vital stage they may be.

Other studies were carried out by the Institute of Agricultural Entomology of the University of Milan, by the Institute for the Study of Ecosystems National Research Council and by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Piacenza.

We would like to focus precisely on the studies of the University of Piacenza that have proven the effectiveness of heat treatments in eliminating insects that feed on woody substances (xylophages).

The studies were conducted on the species of woodworm Hylotrupes bajulus, commonly known as house capricorn, using larvae of the same age raised in an air-conditioned cell at the Institute of Entomology and Plant Pathology of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Piacenza.

These larvae were inserted inside two beams of the same size and brought to the place of treatment. One of them was left in the ground floor rooms that were not treated, while the other was placed in a mezzanine undergoing treatment.

At the end of the treatment, the woodworm larvae present in the untreated beam turned out to be completely viable and in some cases they had dug into the wood. In the treated beam, on the contrary, the woodworm larvae did not move and had a dark color.

Returned to the laboratory and analyzed, the woodworm larvae of the untreated beam were alive while the others were all dead. This demonstrates the total effectiveness of both the ecological anti-woodworm treatment with heat on fixed wooden artefacts and the anti-woodworm service with heat chamber based on the same principles but especially suitable for those who have to treat furniture, ornaments and non-fixed artefacts that can be transported to our premises.

There are numerous advantages brought by heat disinfestation:

  • Non-toxic system
  • Zero environmental impact
  • Deep penetration of heat into all types of wood and of any thickness
  • The heat acts on every vital stage and guarantees the complete elimination of the infestation at any level
  • Excellent application on wooden artefacts
  • Can be used in any area including healthcare
  • Applicability in inhabited contexts and not without any authorization or restriction and immediate usability of the environment
  • Guaranteed System
  • No type of residue and odor on the treated materials and premises

We remind you that for these types of treatment there is a tax credit of 50% aimed at a restructuring, restoration and conservative restoration of the wooden structural elements of the customer's home.

Gallura Disinfestazioni carries out the ecological anti-woodworm service with heat throughout Sardinia, specifically in the provinces of Olbia-Tempio, Nuoro, Sassari, Oristano, Ogliastra, Medio Campidano, Sulcis Iglesiente, Cagliari

For more information and quotes contact us by following our form.

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