Photo: India TImes
Swarms of Goeldichironomus, an insect species that grows near highly polluted water bodies, have made India’s dirty Yamuna river their breeding ground. The pests are now making their mark on the nearby Taj Mahal, where green spots can be seen on the marble.
Dr. Girish Maheshvri, head of the entomology department at India’s St. John’s College, identified the insect by request of the Archaeological Society of India. He told the India Times that although they have attacked the monument, permanent damage to the Taj isn’t likely.
“The greenery on the monument’s white marble is partially digested chlorophyll combined with their fecal matter,” Maheshvri says. “I don’t think this will cause damage to the stone.”
Maheshvri says the insects are attracted to sandstone, which is why the Taj Mahal’s marble exterior is alluring. Although it can be cleaned, experts say there still needs to be a cleaner ecosystem surrounding the Taj Mahal.
“The deposit on the Taj is water soluble,” Archaeologist Bhuvan Vikram Singh told the India Times. “We are trying to clean it with water, but cleaning the Taj Mahal with water will not solve the problem. We know where and how these insects grow, so if we solve the problem at the basic level, we can stop them from growing in numbers and there will be no marks on the Taj.”
It isn’t clear what method or methods will be used to control the pests, but an integrated pest management approach will be taken by addressing the source of the insects: the river.
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