Before the rot sets in

Termite terror is gnawing its way deep into the heart of southern England's residential market. The recent discovery that a troop of termites had taken up residence in a house in Devon quickly spread panic throughout the South-west. Global warming, we were warned, means termites swarming into our woodwork, working their way northwards as the weather warms.

But according to preservation experts the real threat to our buildings comes from native wood-boring insects, rather than from exotic imports. Especially in Scotland where various septs of the clan McBug are well established already.

Colin Smith, general manager of Rentokil Initial, who has been involved in combating termites in southern Europe, America, the Middle East, and Asia, says that the Devon outbreak is an isolated incident and that we should all focus on the bugs which might already be eating into the value of our homes.

''Devon is a freak situation where a nest was accidentally brought into the country, but the risk of this infestation spreading to other parts of the UK is extremely remote,'' says Colin Smith.

In fact, it is only the sixth registered case of termites in the UK during the past 100 years.

While our friends in the South have to contend with native species such as the death-watch beetle and the house longhorn beetle, the real threats in Scotland are the common furniture beetle (woodworm) and dry rot.

And while woodworm can cause problems, it is dry rot which can really eat Scots out of house and home.

''Scotland is renowned for its high levels of dry rot throughout older building stock,'' says Rentokil Initial's sales and marketing manager Bob Hanney.

''If you are buying an older property north of the Border that's something you really must check for. It's very expensive to treat,'' he says.

Serpula Lacrymans, as dry rot is known to the specialists, can reduce any householder to tears - and timber to a dampish cumble. Every now and again, dry rot growths produce millions of spores which quickly infect any nearby woodwork. Their tendrils can penetrate brickwork in the search for new wood to consume.

All rots are associated with moisture, combating them means checking hidden areas, espeically in poorly ventilated places like under floorboards and behind skirtings or wall panels.

The destructive work of the common furniture beetle (anobium punctatum) happens all year round, but at this time of year the tiny, adult beasts leave their homes to find mates - which gives you the chance to spot them.

Tell-tale signs take the form of small holes, about 1 to 2mm in diameter, peppering stairs, skirtings, roof and floor timbers or furniture. Small piles of what fine sawdust beneath the holes, which the beetles bore in timber as exit routes, can indicate an active infestation.

The first step in safeguarding against woodworm is a comprehensive survey for timber infestation. If a problem is found, the timbers should be treated with an insecticidal fluid.

Bob Hanney says: ''A well-established, reputable company will be able to offer a 30-year guarantee for its work. However, if the surveyor's report reveals no existing evidence of attack, there is no guarantee that an infestation of timbers won't occur in the future so it's best to choose a company that offers an insurance policy to protect against future problems.''

Although property is the most valuable possession most of us will ever own, only a small percentage of homeowners think to insure against woodworm - although it is second nature to take out other types of insurance. Hanney warns that homeowners should be particularly careful to check for active woodworm evidence when purchasing second-hand or antique furniture. What might appear to be an attractive purchase could bring an infestation to your hearth and home.

When looking for woodworm around the house, the most important areas to inspect are the roof void and floors - particularly the joists and the underside of floorboards. In older furniture, the feet of chairs and backs of wardrobes and dressers, which often contain plywood or matchboard, are prime targets for the common furniture beetle.

Modern furniture is less susceptible because the larvae do not like the resins and glues used - not that they couldn't chew through them, their jaws are so strong that they have been known to devour lino and vinyl floor covering, lead pipe and even plastic water tanks.

Your house is unlikely to fall down as a result of woodworm, but floorboards can collapse, furniture become disfigured and timber weakened, affecting the resale value of the property.

''The idea that woodworm only attack very old houses is completely untrue. The fact is that no house, even one recently built, is safe from timber decay unless its timbers have been pre-treated with preservatives,'' says Hanney.

Woodworm and rot should enjoy the lion's share of Scotland's woodwork for some to come. While the media's antennae twitches frantically about a single case of termites in the South, many of our homes are being eaten away by our own boring, but highly voracious, bugs.

''As far as Scots are concerned termites are right off the scale of consideration right now,'' says Hanney. ''But, if global warming continues who knows what we'll all have to contend with...?