Does anyone know what I should do about distegrating beams?

[RosinaCopper]

I live in an old house - the original timber framed part is supposedly 16th century.

Recently when we had some work done, I noticed quite a lot of dust coming from the base of one of the upright beams in the kitchen. I have also seen plenty of silverfish, although the house is kept very warm and there are lots of cracks from it drying out over the last few years when we changed the heating system.

Anyway, I sprayed some insecticide to try to get rid of the silverfish as they seemed to be coming out of the wood. As I sprayed at the base of one the beams, a load of fine, powdery dust came out, but I left it there overnight as I thought that it would have been treated with the spray that forced it out and so could be useful if any silverfish went over it.

This morning, while I was sweeping it up (along with some dead silverfish) I noticed that some bits of what looked like dust were moving, quite fast, between little patches of the wood dust in my dustpan. I showed DH to make sure I wasn't imagining it! There are also some things that are very spherical, which I thought could possibly be eggs, but from what?

So my question is, any idea what these could be and any idea how they got there and how to get rid of them? And will we end up having to replace some of the original beams to keep the house stable?!

Thanks!

I really should preview - disintegrating not distergrating

I'd take a look on the SPAB website and perhaps phone the free SPAB advice line on Monday.

Here's a starter article www.spab.org.uk/advice/technical-qas/technical-qa-28-woodboring-insects/

Are you listed? If so, it's a good idea to talk to the Conservation Officer before you start on anything, although these should be repairs rather than alterations and so not need Listed Building Consent.

What GrendelsMum said. I'd get a timber surveyor in to have a look - I'm having to get some joists replaced, it could be dry rot. Am using Timberwise.

Sounds like woodworm to me. What GrendelsMum said.

Thanks all, I'll look at the link and also have a look at timberwise.

It's actually much less hassle than you might anticipate to have beams replaced - this happens all the time, so restoration carpenters just take it in their stride.