![]() Cigarette beetles are generally only found in warm climates or heated buildings. In the same way the woodworm larvae do, they burrow into hard materials and once they have grown into adults they leave neat flight holes. Biscuit beetles have also been known to feed on papier mâché objects. Insect and plant collections can be particularly affected by spider beetles but the larvae will also eat wood, paper and textiles.Īs the name suggest the larvae of the Biscuit Beetle and Cigarette beetle feed on dried food, plant material and freeze-dried animals. The adults are generally 3-5 mm long and will eat vegetable and animal debris. The Australian Spider Beetle and the Golden Spider Beetle, do superficially look like spiders with a bulbous body, 6 legs and 2 long antenna at the front which could look like legs. Their natural homes are birds’ nests and animal burrows, so birds nesting in attics and chimneys could be a cause of infestation. They prefer to be in warm, dark places so can often be found it rolled carpets and dark areas of cabinets and boxes.Īdult beetle tend to take flight in warm weather and can often be found on windowsills. The woolly bears tend to feed on textile such as wool and silk, as well as fur, feathers and skins. The spotted carpet beetle has 2 spots on its back. The varied carpet beetle is a mottled cream, light and dark brown, the Guernsey beetle is mottled grey and dark brown and the Vodka beetle is plain brown. ![]() The adult beetles are roughly 2-3 mm long and vary in colour depending on the type of beetle. Known as “woolly bears” they can be up to 5mm long, have brown stripes and are hairy and shed their skins as they grow. Again it is the larvae that cause most of the damage, but they are easily recognisable. These include Spotted Carpet beetle, Vodka beetle, Varied Carpet beetle and Guernsey Carpet Beetle. There are various kinds of carpet beetle which can cause damage to collections. When the adults emerge they leave flight holes that are 1.5-2cm in diameter. Furniture beetle has also been found in damp books and wood pulp. Again, as the larvae tunnel through the wood they leave behind frass, which is smaller and wheat grain shaped. The only difference is that they do not tend to feed on solid heart wood. The adult Furniture Beetle is 3-5 mm long and the larvae, although being smaller than Death Watch beetle, can cause the same amount of damage. An object may already have old flight holes from a previous infestation but new ones will be a similar colour to freshly cut wood. ![]() Indications of a recent infestation are small piles of light wood coloured frass and fresh, bright looking flight holes. Once the larvae have matured into an adult beetle they emerge from the wood leaving 3mm flight holes. The death watch beetle got its name from the knocking sound that the adult beetles make in the spring. Once the larvae have hatched they tunnel through the wood leaving behind frass consisting of small round pellets. The larvae like to feed on hard wood (generally oak and elm) as well as soft wood, which can cause extreme structural instability of wooden objects and buildings. The adult beetle is 6-9 mm long and lays eggs in cracks and crevices of wood. They generally prefer warm and damp conditions and will flourish in environments above 60% RH.ĭeath Watch Beetles enter the museum environment through open crevices and doors and windows. There are two main types of wood boring insects that occur in the museum environment. ![]()
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