Bugs

[thom]

Has anyone actually seen the bugs that like to feed on cow horn?
Are they visible to the naked eye?
I recently received a vintage knife that at one time it appears to have had bug bites. It appears to be repaired.
Anyway I saw a really small bug on the outside of one of my cases. Just wondering if it's anything I should be worried about.
I did give the knife in question a good WD40 bath.
Thanks
Thom

[Killgar]

I believe it's the carpet beetle larva. The larva is about the size of a small grain of rice. The adult beetle is about the size of a BB.

[thom]

Thanks, what I saw was like a gnat, in size.
Hopefully I'm good. Are they more prevalent in certain areas of the country?

[thom]

I believe it's the carpet beetle larva. The larva is about the size of a small grain of rice. The adult beetle is about the size of a BB.

Killgar, I posted a response but I didn't hit reply.
Thanks look at my response

[Killgar]

It's my understanding that carpet beetles are common throughout the US, but that they thrive more in southern/warmer states (I know we have them in California, I've killed many throughout my life). There are a few different breeds of "carpet" beetle in the US, but the one I pictured is the one I know of personally (known as the "varied" carpet beetle).

There is also a breed of moth larva in the US that eats horn (Ceratophaga Vastella, aka- Horn Moth), but those are big enough that if a person had them they would know it.

I don't know what effect, if any, WD40 would have on insects. It does say on the can that it is harmful or fatal if swallowed, but that's for humans. One method for killing horn-burrowing insect larva without damaging the item is to put it in a freezer at -20 or lower for a week. Typical kitchen freezer temps aren't cold enough.

Leaving an item in hot sunlight all day is also a method for killing infested bugs or driving them out, but then one has to consider the affect of the sunlight and heat on the item itself.

If what you saw was a gnat, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm no entomologist, but I don't know of any gnat larva that eat horn.

[john]

Google “how to get rid of carpet beetles in your home”
You’ll get more info than you need.

[thom]

Google “how to get rid of carpet beetles in your home”
You’ll get more info than you need.

Thanks John, I live in Maryland. Our weather is similar to yours. Have you ever had them.
Thom

[Bill DeShivs]

Only once have I seen a live larva in a handle.
I have seen many shed casings left in handles, though.