The Structural Conservation of Panel Paintings

include wood with large vessel elements, such as oak and elm, and a high

starch content (Hickin 1963, 1975). Lyctusbeetles lay their eggs directly

into vessel elements using a long ovipositor. The size ofthe ovipositor

requires larger cells, such as the earlywood vessels of ring-porous woods,

for successful penetration. Since eggs can be laid only in wood with vessels

A G  W D C  M  I 63

Bostrychi d

powderpost

beetle

Deathwatc h

beetle

Dermestid

beet le

Buprestid

beetle

Lyctus

powderpost

beetle

Common

fu rnitu re

beetle

Ptili nus

beet le

Bark

beetl e

Wood-bori ng

weevil

Ambrosi a

beet le

House longhorn

beetle

Figure 6
Common adult wood-boring beetles that can
damage wood. The actual size of each insect
is represented by the bar next to the beetle.
See Table 2 for a summary of the woods
affected and the distinguishing characteristics
ofthe damage.

Eggs

Adult Larva

Pupa

Figure 7
Life cycle of the common furniture beetle,
Anobium.Eggs are laid on exposed wood.
Larvae (woodworms) develop from eggs and
bore into the wood, leaving pellets of frass
and particles ofwoodbehind. Larvae grow
as they tunnel and feed on the wood. Larvae
pupate before emerging as adults. Damage to
the wood is due to the wood-boring larval
stage of the beetle.