Brown Rot
Gloephyllum spp., Daedalea spp. etc.
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Anobiidae
Recognition: Wood affected by brown rot acquires a brownish stain, and shrinks abnormally during drying, resulting in a cracked, cube-like appearance. The cracks run perpendicular to the natural woodgrain. When this cube shaped wood is dry, it crushes easily into powder. Brown rot produces fruiting bodies which look like crusts, shelves, or mushrooms, with a tough, leathery, corky or woody texture when mature.
Geographic Range: Brown rot occurs throughout most of the United States where there is abundant moisture.
Comparison with other groups: Some sap-staining fungi do cause brown or black stains, but do not result in abnormal shrinkage of the wood into brittle cubes that crumble when crushed. Surface-staining fungi which also result in brown or black stains give the wood surface a powdery or fuzzy appearance, but these types do not produce shrinkage or cubes either.
Biology: Brown rot is spread by spores. Brown rot hyphae attack the wood's sugars and starches, as well as the cellulose of the cell walls. This can reduce the strength of the wood, and cause it to absorb more moisture. Some brown rot fungi can withstand high heat and dryness. Some species can remain dormant for long periods, and then revive when moisture is present.
Damage: Brown rot fungi mostly attack softwoods, such as pine, spruce, and fir, with a wood moisture content of 28-32% or more.
Detection:
- Affected wood becomes brownish. While drying the wood tends to crack perpendicular to the grain, resulting in cube-like structures which are easily crushed into powder when dry.
- A thorough inspection is needed in order to identify the source of moisture, and to lower it.
Environmental Policy
The employees of American Pest Management are committed to improving the quality of life for all of our customers by providing the safest and most effective treatment for the management of pests which pose a threat to their health, property, and food supply. History has shown that neglecting to control pests such as cockroaches, mosquitoes, rodents, and ticks, and the misapplication of pest control products are equally dangerous.
