Blickling Hall introduces wasps to help tackle moth problem
The National Trust says the common moths have been tricky to contain.
The National Trust is beginning a ground-breaking new pest-control trial to tackle a common or 'webbing' moth problem at Blickling Hall in Norfolk.
It says despite vigilant housekeeping and other preventative measures the moths have proven hard to control.
If left unchecked they can cause serious damage to carpets, furniture, clothing and other wool and silk objects.
The trial will involve using a number of different methods at the same time to target the moths entire lifecycle.
It will be targeted in 11 key spaces of the hall which are responsible for 80% of the total moth count.
What are the wasps being used?
The parisitoid wasps are barely visible to the human eye and are a natural enemy of the clothes moth.
The National Trust says they search out moth eggs and lay their own eggs inside, so that a new beneficial wasp hatches, rather than a moth larva.
Once the wasp eggs are laid, the wasps die naturally and disappear into the house dust.
The wasps are going to be used alongside pheromone 'tabs'.
The chemicals released from the tabs confuse male moths, reducing their chance of finding a female mate and breeding.
Why now?
Blickling Hall says the trial comes as the Trust releases the results of its annual pest review, which found that insect pests such as moths and silverfish thrived during lockdown, with fewer house visitors and staff to disturb them.
2,455 moths were recorded in 2020 at Blicking.
Ellie Hobbs, who's a Steward at Blickling Hall, said: "We are really excited to be a part of this innovative trial.
"It will sit perfectly, hand in hand with our existing, proactive approach to pest management."