Woodworm

[JIMRPT@aol.com]

In a message dated 01/04/04 10:27:07 PM, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:

<< The termites ate the plate?!?!?!?!


Those must have been Florida Alligator Termites!

 >>

Nah they were most likely ironymites, a filiform realative, which are closely 
related to 
the phlym poly- which in turn contains such nasties as styreneimites, 
urethaneymites and last but certainly not least the world class bugger of them all 
the esterymite.
This last member of the phylm, the polyestermite, has reaked havoc among the 
boating community for decades. First discovered to exist during WWII the 
population has seemed to explode from that time on. Prime breeding/living territory 
for the polyestermite is a wet, or very damp, climate and a food source such 
as gel coat on fiberglass boats. Boaters and  boat insurance companies have 
fought mightly against these little nasties to no avail.
 A very close relative to the poly phylm is the filiform family. This genus 
has adapted to metal/paint coating interfaces and causes millions of dollars of 
damage on an anuual basis......is it quite possible that some form of 
filiform worm has evolved to specialize in piano plates???
Jim Bryant (FL)