Dry Rot Detection

The dry rot fungus, Serpula lacrymans, remains a common building pathogen around the world and there have been extensive efforts to study the fungus and develop detection methods. Because the first sign of dry rot infestation is often the collapse of structural timbers in buildings, there has been much interest in early dry rot detection using the smells emitted by the degradation of the affected wood.

Inscentinel is currently developing a system to detect early stage dry rot by using our honeybees and their extremely sensitive sense of smell. We have discovered that honeybees can easily recognise infected timbers in the laboratory and we are working with building pathologists to test the system in the field. Honeybees show great potential for commercial detection of dry rot and this may be extended to other fungi (such as toxic mould) in the future.

The dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans (stained with the fluorescent stain Calcofluor White) growing on Scots Pine.