Bugs inside the violin?!
For the past few weeks, I have been observing my violin case and seen some really small bugs crawling on the exterior of my case. I kill them every time I see them but yesterday night there was one long trail with around 15 bugs crawling. When I checked my violin, I realised the interior appeared to have some bugs inside or something. What should I do to remove them? Are these bow bugs or something more serious? And will they affect my violin? I'm kind of really scared now...I hope my violin is fine;(
Replies (16)
I think you should get this checked out. Good luck.
I would tell you to leave bow and violin in the sun because the bugs probably won't like it, but neither will your violin... maybe you can at least put the violin case and the bow into the sun and just kill any bug that crawls out of the violin? At least I would not use the case anymore...
I'm living in Singapore and the weather here is really humid;(
I'm living in Singapore and the weather here is really humid;(
I would suggest figuring out what kind of bugs you have. Take a close up picture and show it (or email it) to an entomologist. They should be able to tell you if the bugs eat wood.
Do you have bow hairs breaking for no reason (not during play)? Then you know it's the bow bugs...
It's not quite that simple. There are a million different species of insects. These could be harmless passer-bys or something that might actually be an issue to your violin, or bow, or case...
If you can get a really clear picture of the insect...post it here - or send it to me via this website. I might know what it is and if not, I can still narrow it down for you.
Until you discover what type of bug it is, it may be too late.
Violin case has got more spots for bugs to hide and multiply, so stop using it immediately and leave it outside, open.
Take your violin to a luthier to take a good look inside; this will include removing the strings, sound post, tail-piece and end-ping. If there is anything inside, looking like a larvae, the violin should be thoroughly cleaned. Professional luthier will know how to do it.
If possible, get a brand new case, one of those "skeleton"; nothing fancy, in order to spot the bugs easier in case they come back.
If you know the maker of your violin, contact him/her to confirm that the wood was properly protected against woodworms. Most of violins made in past 100-150 years are, and luckily the great ones.... but there were periods in history when violins (and furniture) were not protected. (I have got a survivor of a woodworm feast from 1825. )
Lastly, inspect your place and the places you bring your violin to; unless you want to keep repeating the whole exercise, the main source of the bugs must be identified.
I am pretty sure the source of the bugs is the NSA.
Jaime, I'm from Malaysia so we share 99% the same weather. Your situation seems like a typical case where the bug would appear and crawling around when you store the violin (in a case) at humid and damp area like wall next to toilet or room that doesn't receive sunlight most of the time. You can spot similar tiny bug if you look closer to the wall surface of your toilet or wall next to toilet.
Take out the violin and wipe those little bugger off and play the violin more often. You may also turn on dehumidifier (if you have one) or air conditioner and leave it under dryer air for a while. Open your case for a nice sunbath will also take care of the problem.
It could be other problem though so if you're unsure, take it to luthiers.
Aside from the NSA (Good one!), it could also be that there is something inside your fiddle that is an ideal breeding ground for the insects (whatever they are) to lay their eggs. In which case it might not be what they eat but what they like to breed in.
Anyway, hope you solve it.
Cheers,
Sandy
Leave the case in the sun for a few days and after that keep it open inside the house for a few weeks. The violin should be kept in a safe place for a few weeks but NOT in the case. Put it on shelf somewhere. Let them both air out. The bugs will probably leave after a while.
I live in the tropics too ; bugs are everywhere but most of them will do no harm.
The best way of killing household insects in enclosed spaces (closets, chests, etc.) is a pest strip. I suggest that you put a Vapona or other strip in your case. These strips emit a vapor related to nerve gas. If it were me, I would put one in the case and close it for a month, except for when you really need it to go to your lesson or whatever. Keep your violin out resting safely in a stand (I use one of those Ingles stands so that my violin is always available). If the bugs are still targeting your violin, even out of the case, dangle a strip through the f-hole.
You wouldn't want to live in a monk's cell 24 hours a day with a closed door and these strips hanging in the open. But it's standard stuff and safe in moderation. Recommended usage is that the human is in a ventilated area and the strip is in a closet. That way, what leaks out has negligible concentration. If you dangle a strip in your violin, air it out before playing. They also make flea collars for dogs and cats out of this stuff.
If Bugs is inside your violin, he probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. Just hope that Elmer doesn't show up and start blasting away in the f-holes. :-)
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November 2, 2013 at 08:01 AM · Storing your violin at humid and damp area lately? ;-)