Beetle trap is museum favourite

Whenever Powysland Museum is asked to provide a ‘mystery’ object, this is one of the favourites.

Because although the object is very simple, its purpose is not that obvious. It is most often suggested that it is some type of an old fan.

The item actually dates back to the 19th century and is a ‘Demon’ beetle trap, which was used by housewives to combat the various household pests attracted to the food in the kitchen including cockroaches and other beetles.

The object consists of a dish with movable flaps and a small, hollow, round bowl in the middle.

According to the instructions at the bottom of the item, the inside of the trap should be baited with bread, cake crumps or sugar, while the metal flaps would be covered with ‘treacle, beer, sugar or cheese’.

Any beetle attracted by these delights would fall into the base of the trap when the metal flaps pivoted by the weight of the insect and could then be killed by boiling water.

The label proclaims that the ‘Demon’ is “the most effective and popular trap in the world” and is “to be had of all ironmongers in the United Kingdom”.

Powysland Museum has two of these traps, one of which is currently on loan to The Charles Dickens Museum in London, where it forms part of the recreated kitchen in the famous author’s home.

The other trap can be seen in Powysland Museum’s Victorian kitchen display. The museum is open weekdays except Wednesday from 11am-1pm and 2-5pm as well as Saturday 11am-2pm.