Elisabeth - If they are indeed Anthrenus verbasci, they are NOT coming from the wood. They most likely are coming from the dead birds. Anthrenus larvae eat protein, i.e. the dead bird feathers, skins, and entrails. The adult beetles are attracted to light, hence they end up on the window sills and in the light fixtures. Remove the dead birds.
Thomas A. Parker, PhD President, Entomologist Pest Control Services, Inc. -----Original Message----- From: E. Abgottspon <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, Jul 6, 2010 4:40 am Subject: [pestlist] WG: bugs in the museum... Dear members of the pestlist I’m the „curator“ of a little a Museum in Switzerland, but not knowing much about pests. It would be great if you can help me concerning a bug-problem. At the moment, we show an exhibition about different „phenomenas“ in the near nature environment of the museum (Kuesnacht, Switzerland). As the subject is „nature“, our designers decided to use „nature materials“ and I agreed to do so. Now, I wouldn’t do it anymore… Because: we now have bugs in the exhibition-room. A biologist told me that they must be Anthrenus, probably Anthrenus verbasci. The grubs/worms must be in the wood we used and the bugs are lying near the window, most of them dead. As the removing of the wood would probably be the end of the exhibition (it should actually not end before october…), I would like to know the risks and the problems and what else I could do instead of removing the wood… Fortunately we don’t have our collection/museum-objects in this room except some « dead birds ». And it wouldn’t be a problem, if the worms will stay in the wood and eat this wood, in which they’ve come into the museum. Do the worms eat only the bark of the wood – will it be a big problem for the room itself (wooden ceiling…), because now the bugs are lying their eggs everywhere? And will they destroy the objects of our next exhibition in this room? What are they eating actually? What do I have to do concerning the room…? I send you a few pictures – it would be great, if you could help me or tell me who I could/should ask. A big « thankyou » in advance and please excuse my English… Best regards Elisabeth Abgottspon (grundsätzlich am Dienstag, Mittwoch und Donnerstag im Ortsmuseum) Öffnungszeiten des Museums: Mittwoch, Samstag und Sonntag von 14 Uhr bis 17 Uhr. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elisabeth Abgottspon Kuratorin/Museumsleiterin Ortsmuseum Kuesnacht Tobelweg 1 8700 Küsnacht Tel. 0041 44 910 59 70
