Destructive Bug Infestation Threatens Historic 1,000-year-old Book Collection

Thousands of historical books are successful jeopardy complete a monolithic bug infestation that could annihilate centuries-long of humanities records.

The Pannonhalma Archabbey successful Hungary is simply a Benedictine monastery that is moving to prevention books from drugstore beetles, according to The Associated Press (AP).

About 100,000 handbound books are being removed by restoration workers to commencement a disinfection process that would termination immoderate bugs that person nested successful nan pages.

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The beetles were recovered successful a conception of nan UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses 400,000 volumes – which makes up a 4th of nan books successful nan library. 

Zsófia Edit Hajdu, nan main restorer connected nan project, told AP they've ne'er seen specified an infestation before.

Historic books astatine Hungary's Pannonhalma Archabbey look demolition from drugstore beetles. (Pannonhalma Archabbey via AP)

"This is an precocious insect infestation, which has been detected successful respective parts of nan library, truthful nan full postulation is classified arsenic infected and must beryllium treated each astatine nan aforesaid time," said Hajdu.

Drugstore beetles are besides called cigaret beetles. 

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They commonly infest baccy products, according to Oklahoma State University hold (OSU).

Adult beetles are yellowish to reddish brownish pinch oval-shaped shapes stretching astir 1/10 inch agelong — and tin infest leather. 

Drugstore beetles "have been known to harm nan leaves and bindings of books erstwhile feeding connected nan paste." (Pannonhalma Archabbey via AP)

"They person been known to harm nan leaves and bindings of books erstwhile feeding connected nan paste," says OSU’s website. 

The Pannonhalma Archabbey was founded 4 years earlier nan constitution of nan Kingdom of Hungary successful 996, according to AP.

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It is location to nan oldest and astir important postulation of books successful nan country, including a complete Bible from nan 13th century.

Ilona Ásványi, head of nan Pannonhalma Archabbey library, told AP that whenever she enters nan building she is "humbled."

"When I spot a book chewed up by a beetle aliases infected successful immoderate different way, I consciousness that nary matter really galore copies are published and really replaceable nan book is, a portion of civilization has been lost." (Pannonhalma Archabbey via AP)

"When I spot a book chewed up by a beetle aliases infected successful immoderate different way, I consciousness that nary matter really galore copies are published and really replaceable nan book is, a portion of civilization has been lost," said Ásványi.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.