The chief causes of decay in wood are: physical agencies; insect attack (mostly by anobium puntatum, xestobium rufovillosum, lyctus brunneus, hylotropus bajulus); fungal attack (chiefly merulius lacrynam, poria vaillantii, coniophora cerebella, phellinus cryptarum). The main treatment methods for insect-infested wood are: removal of the damaged wood, use of insecticides and fumigation; Irradiation by gamma or x-rays seems less promising. Fungal decay is treated first by removing the causes of the outbreak and then by use of preservatives. Consolidation of decayed wood has been done with synthetic resins, which are also used for protective coatings, in addition to natural resins and oils, and, for interior woodwork, waxes.