This larva is difficult to identify. But beware, an infestation in a house can cause serious problems.
If some small animals are simply unpleasant to see, others can be dangerous for you and your home. This is the case with this little larva which can live up to 10 years. It can be found everywhere in France, but more particularly in regions where wooden constructions are numerous, such as Brittany, the Atlantic coast, the South West, the South East, or in the Center and in Ile-de -France, in particular in old houses and constructions.
This larva with an elongated and slightly flattened body measures between 10 and 30 mm long. Whitish to beige, with a slightly shiny texture, she has a small brown head. Despite its size, this larva is unfortunately invisible. The reason? It lives and hides in places invisible to the naked eye, in wooden beams or in the frames. It is therefore difficult to spot your presence from the start of the infestation.
The best way to spot them is to listen. If you hear noise of scratch or nibble, or even slight cracks, you may be in the presence of Capricorn larvae of houses that dig galleries in the frame or the beams of your house, or in a wooden furniture .
The capricorns of houses are not dangerous, but their larvae are, because of their ability to destroy wood from the frames and the coniferous structures. The larvae dig galleries in wood for several years (3 to 10 years!). They can weaken beams, joists, frames to make them unstable. In serious cases, this can cause collapses of roofs or floors.
The big problem is that they go unnoticed for a long time! They live hidden inside the wood, so they are often spotted only when there is already advanced damage. The output holes (5-10 mm) appear only when the adult insect comes out, but the evil is already done since the wood is gnawed from the inside.
Once installed, the larvae are difficult to eliminate. They resist surface treatments, because they are deeply rooted in wood. It is often necessary insecticide treatment in depth to get rid of it. The intervention of a professional is essential to deal with the problem. Only a trained professional will be able to confirm that an infestation is underway and that the larvae are active. He is also the only one who can do the right treatment and advise you according to the damage caused.