Insect Journal
November, 2000

Insect Quiz


Your cat just knocked a recently purchased mahogany picture frame off an antique oak table. When you pick up the pieces, you notice a large amount of fine powder all over the floor. When looking at the frame pieces, you notice additional damage (see figure 1). Looking around for clues, you see these three insects (figures 2, 3, and 4) on the windowsill behind the table. Each of the insects is between 1/8 inch and 3/16 inch in length.


  1. Are any of these insects related to the damage you see?
  2. How was the problem established?
  3. Will this damage spread to other areas of the house, particularly houseplants or structural components of the house (floor joists, 2 x 4's, and other structural components)?
  4. How can you solve the problem?


Answer
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