How to get rid of shashel in a wooden house

Chashel is a beetle that attacks wood. Having appeared in a house, it most often settles in wooden walls, foundations, beams, and sometimes it can be found in pieces of furniture and books. The most preferable wood for it is wood whose moisture content is at least 14%. But the real pests are not the adults, but the larvae. They gnaw holes in trees and fill them with their excrement. After some time, they spill out onto the floor and look like wood dust.

Description of appearance

In our area there are several types of shashel - furniture, house. Each of these pests causes significant damage to wooden structures, furniture, even books and leather goods. Many people know what a shashel looks like, but they don’t realize that this is it:

elongated body with a durable shell;
color brown or black;
the size of pests is several millimeters;
on the head there is a long curled mustache with stripes;
three pairs of long, fairly powerful limbs.

The woodworm itself is harmless and does not pose a threat to human life or well-being. But living with him under the same roof threatens serious damage to property.

Important!
The shawl larva is a thick caterpillar of a dirty yellow color with a well-developed mouthparts. It does not leave its burrows, so it is difficult to see it. But characteristic sounds give away their presence.

A photo of the shashel is presented below; you can clearly see all the features of the body structure and color scheme.

Shashel

Tree pests

The most terrible scourge of wood is termite, bark beetle and shashel (woodworm). Wood beetles act quickly and render wood unusable in 2-3 seasons. A termite colony destroys the rafter system in 1-2 seasons. It is precisely because of the speed of movement and omnivory that tree beetles can be “infectious,” that is, they can move to a clean, uninfected forest and lay larvae.

Shashel or woodworm

This pest is also called the “grinder beetle.” However, it is not the beetle itself that is dangerous (adults do not live long and do not feed on anything), but its larva. Shashel larvae have a loose structure and developed jaws, with which they grind wood fibers, using nutrients from them.

Bark beetle

This beetle also feeds on oxidized wood - the most “delicious” areas for it are where the bark adjoins the clean fibers.

Termite or white ant

Insects live in large colonies with excellent organization. The species diversity of these insects is amazing - about 3000 species. A distinctive feature of termites is that they move hidden, making passages underground or in the body of wood. Therefore, a termite mound built in a wooden structure is invisible in appearance.

Features of life

The presence of shashel in a tree is indicated by a specific sound, similar to the ticking of a clock or chirping. It reproduces during the mating period of beetles. You should look for them on the surface of the wood. Because woodworms leave their burrows during mating.

The location of the nest, as well as the degree of infection, is determined by the sound. The more intense and louder the ticking, the more pests there are in the house. Another characteristic sound is created by the larvae, which gnaw wood day and night with a special appetite. The burrows are filled with excrement, which crumbles over time, resembling sawdust or wood dust.

Adult beetles spend most of their lives in the nest, making more and more new passages in different directions. But the main pests are the larvae, which do not leave their burrows at all.

On a note!
Infection of a house occurs during construction, when using material with larvae, cabbage eggs, in old wooden houses with cracks in the wall, window sills, and doorways. And also in a new design, if no attention was paid to careful processing of the wooden components.

Peculiarities of shashel life

Preparations for shashel: proven folk remedies and industrial solutions

Larval development

The shashel develops in the egg from 1 to 4 weeks. The first stage larva is a caterpillar. Starts sabotage immediately after birth. Gnawing through numerous passages. She molts periodically and gradually increases in size. The last stage larva reaches 4 mm.

It is difficult to say how long the shawl beetle lives in the larval phase. According to various sources. develops in the conquered territory from 3 to 15 years. At the last stage, it goes deep into the tree and pupates. It emerges to the surface as a wood-boring beetle that has already formed. But after mating, it returns to the tree again to build a nest and lay eggs.

Characteristic

In Russia, two types of shashel are most often found: house and furniture. And at the same time, each of them poses a serious danger to home furniture and wooden structures of the house. The appearance of this pest will be indicated by a special sound, similar to the ticking of a clock. Insects reproduce it during the mating period by hitting their heads on wood.

On a note! It is easy to identify the nest of pests by this sound, but at the same time, the appearance of adult beetles indicates that their colony is quite numerous and the voracious larvae have already ruined many wooden elements.

But in order to fully gain confidence that it is the shashel in your house, it is advisable to know what it looks like. The body of an adult insect is brown, cylindrical, convex, and elongated.

Development

Development in the egg takes from one to four weeks, after which the larva emerges from it. She molts periodically and at the end of the last phase of development, her body length is about 4 mm, width - 2-2.3 mm.

The shawl larva begins to spoil wood from the moment it emerges from the egg. The starting point is the place where the egg was attached to the wooden surface. Gradually the larva moves deeper, leaving behind narrow passages.

Having satiated, the young shashel goes to the surface and at the same time leaves behind a protective layer, the thickness of which is about 1 mm. Depending on the species, the lifespan of the larvae of these beetles can vary from two to three months to several years.

After some time, the larva goes deep into the wood, where it pupates, and then an adult appears. In an adult shashel, dotted grooves are clearly visible on the elytra.

Fighting methods

Methods of fighting insects How to get rid of shawl, there are several methods. The choice depends on the degree of infestation, financial capabilities, and personal preferences.

Treatment with insecticides. Antiseptics and broad-spectrum drugs are used.
The use of folk remedies. A special mixture is prepared that blocks the access of oxygen to larvae and adults, causing death.
Exposure to microwaves. Carried out by specialists using modern equipment. The generator produces microwaves that are directed at the infested wood. It warms up and kills shashel larvae and beetles. The disadvantage of this method is that it is labor intensive and expensive.
Dry steam treatment. The action is similar to the previous method. Dry steam heats the wood and reduces humidity. In such conditions, the shawl larvae and the beetles themselves die.
Fumigation - fogation, fumigation. Hydrogen phosphide is used, which is capable of penetrating deep layers of wood and destroying shashel larvae and adult beetles.

At home, a chemical method is used using insecticidal preparations and folk remedies.

Conclusion

In fact, there are many more methods of combating shashel than the chemicals and folk methods indicated in the article. The problem is that only specialized services can use such methods, the work of which not everyone can afford - hot steam treatment, fumigation, use of microwaves for complete destruction.

But, of course, the easiest way is to carefully inspect the wood when purchasing and during storage, and also regularly check the furniture for pest damage. And do not forget to treat wooden items immediately after they appear in the house with special protective agents.

Proven Recipes

If a shashel has started in a wooden board, getting it out of there is problematic. But you can make sure that he either crawls out on his own or ends his life in a hole. Initially, you can use folk remedies.

Boil 10 liters of water, mix hot with 250 g of potassium fluoride. Stir for 5 minutes, pour into a spray bottle. They process the wood from shashel. Work should be carried out with rubber gloves.
To 10 liters of lime turpentine add 500 g of wax, paraffin, 300 g of creolin. Stir until smooth and process the wood.
3 liters of turpentine are mixed with 1 liter of gasoline. Using a brush, the wood is removed from the shashel.

A significant drawback for all traditional methods is the unpleasant, pungent odor. It is better to fight shawl in this way in a non-residential building or from the outside. Wood soaked in kerosene and gasoline becomes a fire hazard. Therefore, before using the product, you need to weigh the pros and cons.

Ceramics

Tsenin tiles were molded from red-burning clays with the addition of sand, lime and other raw materials. Then they were dried and fired at a temperature of 900°C to give them the necessary strength and resistance to water before being painted with colored glazes and enamels. The relief was painted by hand with brushes, after which the tile was fired again (950-980°C). Today in Russia, the complex of buildings of the New Jerusalem Monastery (17th century) is considered the most grandiose monument where polychrome ceramics has found widespread use. More than 50 thousand valuable tiles were used here.

Professional preparations

Professional preparations for the pest Treatment of wood from shashel is carried out with antiseptics and insecticides.

Antibug. A universal product against all wood pests. Destroys adult shawls and larvae at different stages of development. Process thoroughly once. But to consolidate the effect, repeated treatment is recommended after 14 days. Used for prevention. The remedy for shashel in the house is not highly toxic, but it is necessary to work with rubber gloves.
Antishashelin. Destroys all types of wood borers. The composition contains silicones that can penetrate into the deep layers of wood and destroy shashel and its larvae. Used for processing old wood, fresh wood, furniture, antiques, floors, any wooden structures. Preserves the integrity of the tree and does not spoil the appearance.
Woodtex. According to customer reviews, one of the most effective drugs. Helps destroy shashel and protects against re-infection for six months. It is recommended to treat several times throughout the year, every 3 months. The product is poured into the shashel passages with a syringe. Seal the holes on top with Vaseline and paraffin. For prevention, the procedure should be carried out in the middle of summer and winter. If the wood is severely damaged, treat the surface with a brush and apply a thick layer of the preparation.
Lignofix. The antiseptic does not contain toxins. After use, it does not lose its properties for 10 years. Destroys chitin-containing insects. It enters the body, disrupts biological processes, and leads to death.

In order not to think about how to quickly and effectively get rid of shashel, it is necessary to inspect wooden structures twice a year and carry out preventive treatment.

How to get rid of shashel in the house: the best ways

If there are wooden structures in your house, then the shashel, a wood-boring beetle, will probably appear in the near future.

The reason for the appearance of such a pest is negligence, namely, failure to treat the wooden material with the necessary chemicals against parasites of this kind.

Shashel can be dangerous itself, but most of all, their larvae cause trouble, digging long passages in floor boards, ceilings, window sills and other household and household items. Today the question on the agenda is how to quickly get rid of shashel in the house.

Shashel in the kitchen

Housewives often find small dark-colored bugs, similar to shashel, in flour and cereals. In the kitchen, the woodworm lives only in wooden structures and is not interested in food supplies. This is another type of pest that looks like a shashel.

The methods of fighting are extremely simple. Throw away the contents, thoroughly wash the containers in which supplies were stored, and carry out a general cleaning of the cabinets. Wash the furniture with a vinegar solution.

Shashel does not live in cereals. This is a completely different type of pest. Therefore, there is no point in using antiseptics and insecticides in this case.

How to locate a beetle?

As mentioned earlier, the first signs of a pest are not easy to detect. If you realize that something is living in the wood, it will be difficult to save it, and even more difficult to remove the beetle. It is easier to deal with a problem in the very first stages of its appearance, so during general cleaning, carefully inspect all the wood in the house for holes and damage.

When starting the fight against shashel, you first need to identify all the objects in which it lives. Inspect the wooden partitions on the ceiling, floor, window sills, doorways, and all furniture made of wood. Upholstered furniture can also be beaten, because its frame consists of sawdust or beams. Notice any slight clicking, tapping, or clock-like sounds. Adults emit them during mating, and the process itself occurs outside.

Having discovered a beetle, immediately begin destroying it. There are many ways to do this, they differ in cost, time and effort.

Neomid 100 “Anti-bug” is a good remedy in the fight against beetle pests

This antiseptic composition was created specifically to protect wood from insects and destroy parasites at any stage of development. It can be used for both external and internal processing of wooden surfaces. To successfully use the biocidal complex Antizhuk Neomid 100, you do not need any complex tools; it is enough to dilute the concentrate in warm water in a ratio of 1:4 and mix thoroughly. The antiseptic is applied to a wooden surface that has been previously cleaned of dirt, debris, dust, old paint and varnish in several layers. Before full treatment, it is recommended to apply a little of the composition to the isolated area to check whether the wood will be stained. For preventive treatment, the consumption of Antizhuk Neomid 100 should be approximately 150-200 mg/m2, while 2-3 applications are enough for the antiseptic to be absorbed, thereby providing reliable protection.

The main advantages of phosphine fumigation:

A high degree of permeability makes it possible to infect insects located even in deep layers of wood.
Phosphine has a high degree of toxicity, so it can be used not only against insects, but also for rodent control.
The gas, penetrating the body of an animal or insect, affects all systems and organs, leaving no chance of survival.

In the fight against shawl by fumigation, the following drugs are used: magtoxin and phostoxin.

Magtoxin is a preparation based on magnesium phosphide, ammonium carbamate and paraffins. When exposed to air, magtoxin releases hydrogen phosphide, which has high insecticidal activity. Magtoxin decomposes quickly almost completely, and the residual dust does not contain metal phosphide. This cannot be said about other drugs of the phosphide group.

Fumigation with magtoxin is intended for warehouses and storage facilities that occupy large areas. The fumigation time depends on the area of the room and its gas permeability. No traces remain on the treated surface. Through ventilation after such treatment should last 3-6 hours. If safety precautions are followed, Magtoxin is completely safe for specialists working with it.

Phostoxin is a fumigant with a high content of aluminum phosphide. Gas can penetrate under sealed packages. Since the gas interacts with copper, silver and gold, they must be protected during processing. Used for processing warehouses and storage facilities.

Microwave method (MW)

- This is a way to get rid of shashel in residential premises. The microwave emitter is an autonomous installation that carries out disinfestation of premises. Ideal for fighting insects, including shawl, in everyday life. Of course, you can purchase such a device and carry out pest control of premises on your own, but there are a number of nuances that can be missed without special knowledge.

There are many types of shashel, each with its own characteristics. For example, each type has its own depth of penetration into wood. The heating temperature of the room depends on this, which the specialist will select optimally.
Heating the entire room is impractical and costly. Professionals know exactly where and with what power to warm up.
Additionally, equipment will be required to identify foci of the spread of shashel.
You need to work taking into account the heat transfer coefficient of the material, so you will need a laser pyrometer.
It is necessary to strictly follow safety precautions when working with equipment.
To prevent the wiring from catching fire and communications from being damaged, heating should be carried out at a certain angle.
The equipment is expensive and its purchase will be impractical. It will be cheaper to invite specialists and solve the problem once.

Microwave rays, affecting insects, completely destroy them. However, they do not have any negative effect on wood. The main difference between microwave and chemical treatment is the local effect on the specific area being treated. The room temperature does not increase during microwave operation. By affecting a specific area, microwave rays provoke vibration of water molecules, which leads to heating of the wood to the required 56 C°. This temperature is sufficient to completely destroy the eggs, larvae and adults of the shawl. The equipment is completely safe for others; when carrying out the treatment, evacuation of household members and household appliances is not required. Today, microwave is the most effective method of getting rid of shashel in residential premises.

Houses made of wooden beams attract many people for their environmental safety, as well as the fact that they have a special atmosphere of comfort and warmth. Furniture, dishes, and wooden crafts decorate the interior of any home and create a calm and comfortable mood in the house. However, during the construction of buildings and the production of furniture, additional treatment of wood against pests is not always carried out, which leads to their premature destruction.

Habitat and lifestyle

Initially, the habitat of the shashel was only the Eurasian continent, but over time the habitat of the insect has expanded significantly, and now the pest can be found in any corner of the planet. The largest populations of beetles of this species still live in Europe and Asia.

Shasheli are nocturnal pests that spend their entire lives in their tunnels, which they have made inside wood products. Adult insects leave their passages only to find a partner for mating and laying eggs. Beetles are not picky about their living conditions: they do not eat, live short lives, and die after the eggs are laid.

It is not the adult insects that are dangerous to humans, but the larvae. They are very voracious and extremely active: per day, one larva gnaws a 2-3 cm long tunnel in the wood. The older the larva, the thicker it is and, accordingly, the larger the diameter of the tunnel being gnawed. The larvae feed not only on wood, but also on other vegetation.