Staff at the Natural History Museum in London are fighting a daily battle to halt the progress of tiny beetles that are munching their way through the nation’s botanical and zoological treasures, reports the Independent newspaper.

The Anthrenus sarnicus, one of a species aptly called museum beetles, is the voracious vanguard of a creeply-crawly army that is threatening the cases of rare vegetation and delicately preserved creatures.

Experts at the museum estimate that up to 12,000 plant specimens and several thousand insects have been eaten or damaged over the past 20 years, despite stringent efforts to stamp out the invaders.

The collection of 34 million plants and insects urgently needs to be moved from its home in the grade 1-listed museum, which opened in 1881. If all goes to plan, it will be transferred to a £68.5m glass and concrete “cocoon” that will form the second phase of the museum’s Darwin Centre, a bug-proof display and research facility. The project is expected to be completed by 2007. Details: www.nhm.ac.uk