Bionomical studies on the wood boring weevil Pentarthrum huttoni (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for development of an “Integrated Pest Management” concept in the crypt of St. Michael’s church.
Abstract
In April 2005, the wood boring weevil Pentarthrum huttoni was first recorded in Austria (Halmschlager et al. 2007). It was identified to cause the disintegration of historically significant softwood coffins from the 17th and 18th century in the crypt of St. Michael’s church in Vienna. Based on careful examination of the infested coffins the involvement of other timber pests such as the Common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) can be ruled out. Observations reported in literature indicate that P. huttoni attacks only damp or wet timber, preferably infested by a brown rot fungus. The suggested substrate preference of the insect would therefore open the possibility to implement a relatively easy and environmentally sound measure to stop further development of the beetles in the crypt. Infestation of the coffins by P. huttoni could simply be stopped by changing the climatic conditions, and specifically the high air humidity in the crypt. However, the anecdotic observations on the substrate specifity of P. huttoni have so far not been confirmed with carefully planned laboratory experiments and they are thus to some extent doubtful. Precise knowledge on this aspect of the biology of the insect would be an important requirement in order to develop an “Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Concept” for this species. In the current project, the temperature and substrate moisture requirements for the development of P. huttoni will be investigated under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, a monitoring system will be established by recording the abundance of the beetles and environmental conditions influencing the beetle´s development in the crypt. Monitoring methods include life-trapping of the insects by using pitfall and sticky traps, control of bore dust extrusion on the coffins, as well as measurements of temperature, humidity, and wood moisture. The investigations will lead to recommendations to modify the climatic conditions in the crypt according to the substrate and environmental requirements of the weevils, in order to prevent further development of this pest. Humidity in the crypt, which was near saturation before onset of dehumidification measures, has been reduced to 80% relative humidity. However, for technical reasons it is difficult to reduce humidity for another 20%, as originally planned. Based on the bionomic data for P. huttoni and the resulting temperature and humidity threshold values obtained from our laboratory experiments it will be clarified, whether or not additional technical measures of dehumidification are necessary to prevent further development of this timber pest species.
keywords Bionomie Pentarthrum huttoni Holzschutz Denkmalschutz
Publikationen
Control of the wood boring weevil Pentarthrum huttoni (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by changing the environmental conditions in the crypt of St. Michaels church, Vienna.
Autoren: Halmschlager, E; Kritsch, P; Dobart, N Jahr: 2013
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Erhard Halmschlager
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Erhard Halmschlager
erhard.halmschlager@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91620
Project Leader
01.08.2008 - 31.10.2009