Insects

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Mark:

In our area, we have only two kinds of bugs that do this type of damage.
The carpet beetle is a furry little thing, not as long as a center pin,
but a little thicker. It likes dry weather. The other kind are moths which
do not grow here in Arizona but usually come with a piano from someplace 
else. They leave a thinner exoskeleton, which is about as long as a 
clipped centerpin and about that thick. Both of these just love untreated
felt. Color does not seem to bother them one way or the other. Their 
excretions will be the same color as the felt which they ate. Hungry little
buggers they are.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Wed, 1 Dec 1999 bases-loaded@juno.com wrote:

> Hello-
> 
> Yesterday I made a first-time call with a new customer whose daughter was
> complaing about the keys feeling "loose".  When I opened it up, it was
> very clear what had happened.  There were THOUSANDS of what I guess were
> larvae "casings" piled up in and around the keys.  These were the
> exoskeletons, I presume, and were app. the size of a center pin in length
> and thickness.  
> 
> Anyway, they had COMPLETELY eliminated the key button bushings - licked
> 'em clean!  Many balance rail felts were partially eaten, but no other
> felt in the entire piano was disturbed.  I have never run into this
> particular critter before..... any idea what is was?
> 
> Mark Potter
> bases-loaded@juno.com
>