ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Timber has been used successfully in construction for many hundreds of years. Although the seventeenth century saw the increasing popularity, and then dominance of stone and brick for external walls, timber has remained a significant material for house construction. Timber is valued for its functional and its aesthetic qualities. It is also a relatively durable material. Unfortunately, this quality of durability may be seriously affected if it is attacked by what are known as timber pests. In the context of buildings the term timber pests refers to those organisms which attack timber for food and/or shelter. These organisms can be divided into two groups.
