Insects

[Ken Jankura]

I had a situation like this a few years ago in an old upright. I was
astounded! If you looked closely, you could just make out the color red as
a miniscule piece of felt was left intact right where the pin touched the
side of the mortice. I guess the larvae couldn't get around it or close
enough to eat it completely. Sure was funny lookin. I always presumed it
was the larva of the wool eating moths :-)
Ken

At 07:46 AM 12/1/99 -0500, you 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
>
>