Wood wasp feeding on timber
Although not strictly speaking a Heritage Survey, whilst undertaking a recent survey of a Edwardian house in Sussex, we were asked by our clients neighbour if we could take a quick look at and advise on a particular problem affecting her timber framed Conservatory.
Nothing unusual about that you might think, but the owner also pointed out that insect’s, described as ‘wasp like’ were also burrowing into the timbers.
The wasp in question, although not your normal Wood Wasp, was chewing quite happily through the apparently sound paintwork and
timber and within a matter of minutes (and long enough to take his photo) was up to his head and shoulders and well into the softwood frame.
Damage caused by wood wasp
After several attempts and about 15 minutes chasing the insect around the garden, it was finally caught and identified, as what was believed to be a Wasp of the genus specie ‘Ectemnius’. This is a Wasp that lay their eggs on paralysed flies, which they then store in burrows made in rotting timber, hence its interest in this rotting softwood conservatory.
We advised the owner of the conservatory that in our opinion the frames of the conservatory were considered to be beyond economical repair and removing the decayed timbers would remove the risk of further infestation by the wasps. Recommendations were made to have the frames fully replaced with a more durable timber, with suitable treatment and decoration.
