Taj Mahal Is Getting A Makeover & Its All Because Of Insect Poop

You probably know about the Taj Mahal gradually getting stained and changing color over time. Recently, some parts of its white surface have started turning green, worrying the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), responsible for its maintenance. ASI now attributes these green stains to insect droppings.

Insect bio-indicator of Yamuna pollution

According to information provided by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in response to an RTI inquiry initiated by advocate KC Jain, insects have been causing harm to the Taj Mahal.

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These insects, known as bio-indicators of Yamuna pollution, have been leaving dark patches on the Taj Mahal's surface since 2015.

ASI's science branch in Agra stated that these stains have been an annual occurrence since 2015, with the northern side of the monument being particularly affected in 2023.

The stains underwent scientific cleaning in October and November of that year. A report dated May 27, 2016, pointed out low water levels, excessive sand, filth, and the lack of water flow as significant factors contributing to insect infestation.

Rajkumar Patel, an archaeologist at ASI, mentioned that brown-green spots emerge on the monument's north face adjoining the Yamuna River.

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"The ASI¡¯s chemical branch had devised a way to clean off these stains left by the faecal matter of the insects by washing it off with distilled water and then rubbing the surface with a clean cotton cloth," he explained.

The culprit insect

The insect responsible has been identified as 'Goeldichironomus.' According to the ASI, these insects typically appear in the Yamuna River during March-April and September-October, when temperatures range from 28 to 35 degrees.

Goeldichironomus insect

These insects thrive in stagnant, polluted waters adjacent to the Taj Mahal.

They feed on algae in the water, rapidly multiplying and leaving behind green or black stains on the marble surface through their excretion.

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