QuestionHi Jim - In 2007, I traveled to Croatia and brought home a lavender sachet that turned out to be infested with what I believe to be scolytus amygdali, the Croatian almond bark beetle. In the spring of 2008, two rooms of my apartment were suddenly covered with these beetles. I had an exterminator come and spray the rooms where the beetles had appeared; this seemed to work, until spring of this year, when they reappeared, although in lesser numbers. Once again, the exterminators visited, but a few weeks ago, the beetles had another "bloom" and I discovered several more, which appeared to be feeding in some of my son's stuffed animals. We threw away these animals and then placed a bunch of other animals and soft sided items in the area in sealed bins with some alcohol; since then, I have not seen any beetles in my son's room. Yesterday, however, I discovered several more in my pantry, apparently feeding on some herbal teas and spices. I am completely at my wit's end trying to figure out how to eradicate this pest from my home. Spraying has not done the trick for long-term extermination and I am desperate for a solution. Please help!
AnswerBased on the biology of scolytus amygdali I do not think that is what you have. They feed on trees and under the bark. And do not infest other objects like the stuffed animals or the tea. You need to ID the insect so you apply the controls to the right places and use the proper insecticide. I would suggest that you send samples to your state agriculture college Entomology Department and ask them if they can ID the insect. If you have an office of the Agriculture Extension Service in your area ask them whop to send it to. Check your local phone book for their number. OR Google "your state" agriculture extension service. Sorry without a picture or samples that is the best I can do.
