How do I know if I have woodworms?

So you have a wonderful instrument from Europe or who knows where, and
it has a few holes from when it had a woodworm or two.  How do you know
if they are still active?  You haven't seen any worms, how do you tell?
They only come out at night.

Get out your flashlight in the morning and go over it looking for shiny
trails.  These worms are a bit like slugs in the garden and they leave
a tiny trail of shiny mucus.  If you want to be totally sure about an
infestation, clean the case completely and then after a few days look
closely for long shiny lines across the top and sides of your piano.
This will let you know that there are living woodworms inside your
treasured instrument.  If you have a piece of furniture as well with
holes, check it out for activity as the worms can make it to your other
items in the room.

I remember working for a piano dealer who imported German pianos and
we used to have to clean off all the trails in the mornings found on
all the grand lids.  I don't think it ever occurred to him to gas the
pianos or even bother with the worms.

D.L. Bullock
www.dougbullock.ws