Somethings eating my indian knives

[Man]

I have these very sentimental Indian knives up on my wall. They were in an enclosed shadow box but it fell about 8 years ago and we hung them back up without the glass. Fast forward now something is starting to eat at the handles which is made of dried bull peckers. (you can see the powder lines from the bugs below the handles). What should I do so that they don't completely destroy my knives? I'm sure the value is already hurt now. Hate to spray something and possibly ruin or tarnish the knives.

[medicineman]

I would try putting them in freezer for a couple days.

[bigchiefj]

I bet they're a species of Dermestid beetle. Some eat hair and/or skin. The can ruin the capes on mounts and horns too. Usually antlers and bone are safe.

[Man]

I bet they're a species of Dermestid beetle. Some eat hair and/or skin. The can ruin the capes on mounts and horns too. Usually antlers and bone are safe.

oh dear god....these knives are hanging in my trophy room.

[texan16]

Putting them in the freezer for a couple days is probably a good idea. Then get them into a new sealed box.

[systemnt]

Cant help with the bugs.. but those are freaking beautiful.

[Kurdawg]

Bug bomb your trophy room

[bullhead44]

Bovinus Peckerchewus beetle maybe?

[systemnt]

if thats a real thing... no wonder them sonsabiscuits buck so hard...

[Txhuntr2]

Bovinus Peckerchewus beetle maybe?

That's them

[systemnt]

Bovinus Peckerchewus beetle maybe?

Cant let the screenname and the current discussion point go unnoticed....

[bullhead44]

Cant let the screenname and the current discussion point go unnoticed....

good one!

[Big pig]

Ozone machine and leave the house for a couple days?
And a new shadow box.

[critter69]

It could be clothes moths, you can spray with raid or simular. Or you can get stuff from a taxidermy supply place and wipe it on ( put in an atomizer bottle and spray ) Check your mounts! It's not the moths that eat it it's there larva. If you notice loose hair, or what looks like sawdust ( droppings) under any of your mounts, lightly pull on some of the hair, if you got them the hair will pull right out. If it's to this stage it's to late to save that one, but it may save your other mounts. If you notice little tiny moths flying around, or stuff above, I would treat all your mounts. I have not seen them eat any thing with out hair on it, but if it's not " tanned" I could see were they may eat it.

[35remington]

Maybe moth balls?