Bow Bug?

bbates77 · #1 07-31-2007, 03:47 AM

Is there such a thing?

I was experiencing a lot of hair loss from my bow recently, I was playing in The Darwin International Guitar Festival in July this year and everyday I was losing up to five hairs from my bow. I had a closer look at the hair and noticed some of the hairs were peeling from the middle of the strand. I showed this to a renown cellist (there are no professional bassists in Darwin) and she said it was either because I have been playing so much in the last couple of days or "Bow Bug". I thought it was a tall story, and I even asked a few people if anyone had ever heard of it. I asked a luther down in Tasmania recently and he just laughed and said it's probably just low quality hair.

What I want to know is did she just make this up on the spot or has someone else heard of this myth?

I'd be interested to know.

JimGullen · #2 07-31-2007, 05:23 AM

Greetings!

Yes, there are bugs that eat Horsehair. I've never seen them...thank goodness. I keep Cedar shavings with my stores of horsehair to keep them away. They don't like cedar evidently.

Again, I've not seen them or the damage that they cause, but I'm told that when you have them, the hairs look like they've been cut straight across.

What you describe sounds more like worn hair. When was this hair put on?

Best regards!
Jim

**Basschair** · #3 07-31-2007, 07:51 AM

Yup, Jim's right.

http://www.johnsonstring.com/Bitten%20By%20Bug.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet_beetle

I won't allow bow or violin cases in my shop, and keep cedar shavings and chunks all around my hair stores. Perhaps it's overkill, but why take the chance?

CPike · #4 07-31-2007, 11:34 AM

I've seen a few in action over the years, it's not a myth. They are called "Dermestid" or "Museum" beetles and their larvae feed on the keratin protein in animal hair.

Chris

CPike · #5 07-31-2007, 11:36 AM

Oh, and I think I agree with Jim - sounds like bad hair - worn, dry, old, etc.

Chris

bbates77 · #6 07-31-2007, 07:38 PM

I think I've risen to the conclusion that it's old hair on my bow. I haven't changed it since I bought the bow early last year. It's Black hair also, I thought it might be some kind of cheap generic hair they put on it to make it look good. Interesting about the bug tho'.

bassplayer57 · #7 08-02-2007, 02:57 PM

Bow bug.
That is a weird bug! I think I need some cedar...

Bob Branstetter · #8 08-03-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basschair

I won't allow bow or violin cases in my shop, and keep cedar shavings and chunks all around my hair stores. Perhaps it's overkill, but why take the chance?

It's not over kill as long as you are only doing bow rehairing. I had a friend who haired bows in his violin shop. His entire stock of hair (several pounds) had to be thrown out and the shop fumigated because of bow hair bug infestation.

One way to check for bow bugs is to note where the hair is broken. If it always occurs at the frog end or the tip end, it is probably not caused by bow bugs. Player should always cut out the broken hairs rather than pulling them out. Pulling them out may weaken the bundle where the hair is tied at the ends. Bleached white hair is far more brittle than unbleached hair and more susceptible to breakage. This is never a problem with black hair since it is never bleached.

bbates77 · #9 08-04-2007, 11:02 AM

Wow, this is really serious...

And here I was thinking it was a myth

bassplayer57 · #10 08-04-2007, 08:30 PM

I think I am going to put some cedar shavings in my bow case!

Silversorcerer · #11 08-05-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbates77

Wow, this is really serious...

And here I was thinking it was a myth

The first time I heard about this I wondered. But it seems there is an insect that will eat almost anything there is. We got beetles hatching in the necks of Chinese basses and museum beetles munching on the bow hair. Bass specific parasitology? We need a new thread category.

Bob Branstetter · #12 08-05-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer57

I think I am going to put some cedar shavings in my bow case!

That might be a bit messy. Bow hair bugs are seldom a problem in cases that are opened frequently. It's the ones that have remained closed for weeks or months at a time that are the problem. The bugs like dark places. If you do have infestation, you can spray the inside of the case with a bug spray that is for moths or simply put the case out in the sun for a couple of hours. I don't know if the sun light kills them, but they will get out and probably look for some other dark place to hide.

Don Higdon · #13 08-05-2007, 07:27 PM

It really is that simple. I always leave the bow case open to whatever light is available, and my habit is to leave the bow up on the music stand. No bug problems.