“As a nature organization, we have to choose between two evils. We don’t actually want to kill the creatures with gas, but otherwise the monument will be damaged and we will have to carry out a major renovation or restoration. For example, a lot of new wood is used for this,” Baars explains. out. Another way to tackle the beetles is through a surface treatment of the wood, but this is only possible if the damage is still limited. “Next year we want to treat three more mills with gas, but we hope to avoid the greatest misery at the others.” This can be done by better monitoring and taking preventive action, says the carpenter. “We really have to be more alert because of the mild winters.”
Gnawing beetles feed on Utrecht windmills: ‘It’s five to twelve’
