Insect larvae, a potential menace to a crucial aspect of Hungary's historical heritage, identified.
The Archabbey of Pannonhalma, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hungary, is currently grappling with an unexpected adversary - drugstore beetles, also known as bread beetles. These insects, usually drawn to dry food products, have found a new attraction in the gelatin and starch-based adhesives used in bookbinding, leading to a troubling infestation.
The library in question, housing approximately 100,000 books, is affected. The beetles, approximately 1.5 to 35 millimeters in size, have directly impacted the centuries-old books in this medieval abbey.
The beetles belong to the family Curculionidae, which boasts around 40,000 different species. Upon reaching adulthood, they develop a masticating apparatus at the end of a long proboscis.
The disinfection process aims to eliminate the beetles and the insects embedded in the books. The affected books are being carefully removed from the shelves and placed into boxes for this process.
To prevent such infestations at home, the article suggests discarding infested items, cleaning the pantry, storing food in airtight containers, using natural repellents, and using domestic insecticides specifically for beetles.
In an effort to keep the public informed, a WhatsApp channel has been set up for relevant news, opinion articles, entertainment, trends, and more. However, the article does not discuss any reactions to the projection "Luminous Memory" on the facade of the Metropolitan Cathedral, nor does it mention any anniversaries for July 17th or any infidelity involving Andy Byron or Chris Martin of Coldplay.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between man and nature, and the need for careful preservation of our historical and cultural treasures.
The infestation is not limited to the Archabbey's library, as the beetles, due to their preference for gelatin and starch-based materials, might also pose a threat to books in other environmental-science or science-related sections of State libraries.
In an attempt to further educate the public about various fields, the WhatsApp channel could potentially include book recommendations from environmental-science and science categories, providing a solution to this problem while also encouraging the love for learning and literature.
