I did a plains game hunt two years ago in S.A ,and had the trophies just mounted as skulls on shields ,the wildebeest while properly treated etc ,have found extrusions on one horn[only] which i thought might be just dirt etc from the drying process .i removed them and sprayed it with pesticide just to be sure ,but several months later the same thing has happened, and what was left of an insect was on one of the extruded tubes ,which i removed burnt and resprayed with pesticide there are definite holes now in the horn ,is this normal for these animals to have this in Africa or maybe its Australian native borers ,trying to figure this one out thanks for any info

Tankhunter
Sounds to me like a horn moth, cerotophaga vastella they are very common and can infest untreated horns, eventually they will devour most horn matter, the cone you see outside is actually the faecal matter

Cheers
Mart

I do believe that Mart is quite correct.

I have a question about the horn moth: It does occur in Africa, OK, I know that. But, does it (or a similar insect) occur in Australia? America? If the moth does not occur in Australia, was it a case of poor taxidermy - or more specifically, poor insect control measures? Will someone who knows about this please educate me, or better "us"?

Thanks.

If the weevils have established themselves in only one horn there is a possibility that during the "dipping" process the entire skull was not fully submerged.
For the anti-parasitic chemicals to have a lasting effect the skull should ideally be submerged for at least 24hrs allowing the chemicals to seep well into the core.
The bugs usually establish themselves after the skinning/boiling/drying/storage process, time in which they dump their eggs which will later hatch when conditions are ripe and the larvae bore their way out in the form of a caterpillar, etc. (you all know the rest of the cycle).

As a P.S. - These weevils are not restricted to Wildebeest horns only - they will happily attack Buffalo, Hartebeeste, Kudu, etc.
I'm pretty sure some of you will have come across kills while walking in the sticks that appear to have a form of "Rastafarian-type" dreadlocks adorning them.

You are going to have to pour a strong "organo- phosphate" poison into the horns, but then again, if the trophy was not treated correctly in the first place, there could well be gunk coming out that would stain the skull. Better to get it to a local taxidermist as quickly as possible before the moth gets into other stuff.
BTW, name the useless SOB who was supposed to have treated them correctly.
I have a mate here who received three completed trophies from a local taxidermist, put them on the wall and a few days later saw fully mature hide beetles crawling out.

I found that if you use a product such a woodoc or teak oil mixed with some diesel or petrol it works well to keep the worms out. Mix basically half of each and paint the horns often.

Sounds like boring beetles to me. You don't want them in your home! I suggest you take your trophy to a near by taxidermist and have him treat for them. If it is boring beetles then they will have to be drilled out, killed and the horns plugged.

anybody know if freeing them would kill the buggers

butchbloc:

Not all horns will slide off.
I have treated horns with Gamatox which normally comes in powder form and by mixing with water you can obtain a solution of a density to your requirement for pouring in between the bone and horn or a full submersion.

If the trophy is already mounted (as in full or shoulder) you have a real problem because any external treatment will resolve nothing because the little bastards are within and I suggest you contact your taxidermist.

Thanks everyone for the information and suggestions ,i will contact the Taxidermist and see what answer he has.Evidently or maybe? one horn was dipped in shallow treatment and then it wasnt turned over, and treated on the other side ,just carelessness maybe ,but very annoying ! considering it could compromise Quarantine of these pests in Australia hmmm anyway i will let you know what happens ,Thanks again everyone !cheers