NewsDecember 8, 2011
How fungi and insect pests affect timber and buildings
 The TRADA Technology Wood Information Sheet (WIS) Fungi and insect pests in timber has been updated for ease of downloading online.
It outlines the more important types of fungi and insects which can affect timber, although with its relatively cold temperate climate, the UK is not seriously afflicted by insect pests. Termites, a major scourge of tropical and subtropical countries, are absent altogether (occasional accidental introductions have been swiftly eradicated). Another widely prevalent pest overseas, the house longhorn beetle, has a very restricted distribution in the UK.
Some timber species are resistant to fungal and/or insect attack, depending on their composition. Timber is composed primarily of hollow fibres of cellulose, cemented together with lignin, a complex organic material constituting some 20% by weight of dry wood. The ratio of wood to air, the shape, variety and arrangement of the constituent fibres and the small proportion of loosely bound ‘extractives' vary to give timbers that have quite different physical and mechanical properties (for example balsa and lignum vitae, both tropical hardwoods).
The chemical constitution varies little except for the ‘extractives'. These confer the specific properties of colour, odour andresistance to bio-deterioration by fungi and insects.
TRADA members may download Fungi and insect pests in timber and Insect pests in houses in PDF format free of charge - click here. The cost is £12.00 for non-members. To order click here.
Related Wood Information Sheets are:
- WIS 2/3-16: Preservative treatment for timber - a guide to specification
- WIS 2/3-33: Wood preservation - chemicals and processes
- WIS 2/3-66: Specifying timber species in marine and freshwater construction.
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