Infestation in loft conversion
House longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus)
South West France
Whilst undertaking a loft conversion, this infestation (photographs below) was discovered when the builder started to sand the structural roof timbers inside the loft. We were engaged to investigate the infestation and to report on the condition of the timbers in the loft space. Firstly, the infestation was identified as the House longhorn beetle and several structural windbrace elements of the roof were infested.
A resistograph was used to ascertain the level of damage within the timbers. It was established that galleries of damage ran through 60% of the timber and therefore, the clients structural engineer decided the timbers had to be removed.
Discoveries of this beetle are at present limited mainly to Surrey.
