Wrote Letter L-302 of 1696-08-29 to Hendrik van Bleyswijk about oak-wood containing beetle larvae, which appeared to be able to feed on wood, and the cause of the differences in quality of oak-wood

Date: 
August 29, 1696
Standard reference information
L-number: 
L-302
Leeuwenhoek's number: 
105
Collected Letters number: 
174
Collected Letters volume: 
12

Text of the letter in the original Dutch and in English translation from Alle de Brieven. The Collected Letters at the DBNL - De Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren

Leeuwenhoek wrote this letter about …

Oak-wood, which had been stored in the garret and outwardly appeared sound, was found to contain larvae of beetles. Some of them pupated and developed into adult beetles. The latter, like their larvae, appeared to be able to feed on wood. Suppositions about the cause of the differences in quality of oak-wood.