Tiny pests cause enormous risk for museum collections

(Top from left) Clothes moth (Tineidae), varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci), bristletail (Archaeognatha) (bottom from left) booklouse (Pscoid) and a webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella). GETTY IMAGES: MAXIPHOTO, ULADZIMIR ZUYEU, HEATHER BROCCARD-BELL, TOMASZ KLEJDYSZ, DIGITALG, 3DRENDERINGS / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Museums are tasked with safeguarding our cultural heritage, yet pests pose an ongoing challenge. For museum clients, use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies such as inspection, monitoring, identification and safe removal to conquer these issues. Climate control, prevention and teamwork also are key to protecting museum treasures.

Be proactive

In the ongoing battle against museum pests, the first line of defense relies on a carefully structured inspection and monitoring system. Thorough examinations of storage areas and exhibition spaces, combined with intentional monitoring efforts, form the foundational steps in safeguarding these priceless collections. This proactive approach enables museums to detect pest-related issues in their early stages, allowing for prompt responses.

Create a detailed, custom inspection checklist to help conduct thorough inspections and prevent the oversight of potential pest problem areas or conditions conducive to infestations. The list should include examining dim and concealed spaces, such as areas beneath and behind prominent displays — and even within tightly sealed display cases. Additionally, schedule regular inspections of hard-to-reach places such as attics and crawlspaces, as these areas inadvertently can become hiding spots for pests that might enter the museum and initiate infestations.

This hutch is infested with true powderpost beetles (Lyctus spp), as noted by the frass. Photo: DR. MOHAMMED EL DAMIR, BCE

Tools such as flashlights, knee pads, inspection mirrors, utility knives, cameras and ladders can significantly enhance the thoroughness of your examinations in both indoor and outdoor areas. This comprehensive approach ensures the early detection of pest-related issues, enabling swift and effective responses to protect museum collections.

During these inspections, knowing what to look for and where to focus your attention is crucial. It is essential not only to focus on identifying live insects but also to be vigilant for signs of infestation, such as:

• The presence of shed skins often serves as a telltale sign of insect infestations, warranting a targeted inspection to locate the breeding source. This is especially important when encountering shed larval skin of carpet beetles (Anthrenus spp.).
• Observing frass and sawdust may point to wood-destroying insect (WDI) activities, necessitating further investigation to locate damaged wood or nesting sites.
• The discovery of dead insects provides valuable insights into the extent of the infestation, guiding subsequent search efforts to locate feeding and breeding sites.

Note the shed skin of a Dermestid beetle on this rug artifact. Photo: DR. MOHAMMED EL DAMIR, BCE

Monitoring for pests in museums is a crucial component of a comprehensive IPM strategy. It involves a systematic approach to detect, identify and assess pest activity within the museum environment. It also helps make informed decisions about pest control strategies and preventive measures.

Ensure precise ID

(From left) Booklouse (Psocoptera), a shed skin of a bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and death watch beetles (Xestobium rufovillosum). Photo: DR. MOHAMMED EL DAMIR, BCE

Accurate pest identification plays a crucial role in the comprehensive assessment of museum pest infestations, seamlessly connecting the inspection and monitoring processes. Museums struggle with diverse pests, encompassing arthropods, rodents and microorganisms. Each species presents unique threats to the preservation of cultural artifacts. Among these intruders, the most insidious tend to target materials commonly found within museum collections, such as fabrics, feathers and textiles.

For example, the red-legged ham beetle (Necrobia rufipes) typically is associated with infestations in dry goods like cured meats, cheeses and pet food. However, this species also has been documented causing damage to museum specimens.

The webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum), carpet beetle species in the Attagenus and Anthrenus genera, and the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) have long been recognized as pervasive museum pests because of their historical impact on natural and cultural history collections.

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and booklice (Psocoptera), meanwhile, can damage materials, objects or building parts. They commonly infest paper, book bindings, herbal specimens, wallpaper and stuffed animals.

Additionally, termites — prevalent in specific regions — pose a significant concern, inflicting substantial damage on wooden artifacts.

Mites, particularly the museum mite (Tyroglyphus entomophagus), often infiltrate museum collections, targeting improperly dried or greasy specimens, especially insects. These minuscule arachnids leave distinctive signs such as small white or grayish spots, excrement, eggs and molted shells on infested specimens.

As they are in so many accounts, German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) can be unwanted guests in museums, too. Photo: DR. MOHAMMED EL DAMIR, BCE

The usual suspects, too

Within the museums served by my company, Adam’s Pest Control of Medina, Minn., an array of pests beyond those mentioned above have been identified in historic buildings and museums.

Rodents, particularly mice, are persistent and capable of causing extensive damage. Their destructive tendencies involve gnawing on various materials and leaving urine, feces and hair behind. They pose a particular threat to paper materials and wooden artifacts within the museum’s collections.

Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) can jeopardize valuable museum items constructed from wood — as well as the structural integrity of the buildings themselves. These ants are notorious for their destructive behaviors. Non-wood-infesting ants also can be a nuisance within these spaces.

Recognizing the various life stages of museum pests is a must for control. Some pest stages, such as moth adults, primarily subsist on floral nectar and other liquid substances and are essentially harmless. By contrast, it is often the larval stage of carpet beetles that precipitates damage, while adult beetles generally pose little to no threat.

Glabrous cabinet beetle (Trogoderma glabrum) adult and larva. Photo: DR. MOHAMMED EL DAMIR, BCE

Treatment options

Implementing comprehensive and efficacious corrective measures is imperative to deal with museum pests. Examples of pest elimination practices in museums include:

• Non-chemical methods. Several non-chemical approaches, such as vacuuming and trapping, provide viable options for pest elimination without compromising the integrity of valuable artifacts.
• Judicious pesticide use. The label is the law when it comes to using pesticides. With museum clients, though, there should be an additional, thorough examination of pesticide residues on items to ensure delicate artifacts remain unharmed. Also, make sure museum staff adhere to re-entry intervals, indicating when treated areas can be safely occupied.
• Temperature-based pest control. Documented treatments indicate that temperatures ranging from 131 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit can efficiently eradicate pests within a relatively short time, typically spanning one to eight hours. This method is particularly effective when applied to books and buildings. Conversely, lower temperatures achievable in standard chest freezers, falling within the range of -4 degrees Fahrenheit to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, typically necessitate exposure for less than one week to achieve the desired effectiveness in pest eradication. The duration of exposure to freezing temperatures varies based on the specific temperature, with well-insulated infested materials requiring more extended exposure times. An exposure period of six to 10 days at -4 degrees Fahrenheit is typically sufficient for addressing most museum pest infestations.
• Controlled atmospheres. Controlled atmospheres, characterized by placing objects in gas-tight chambers at reduced oxygen levels, provide an ecologically sound solution for pest control and prevention in museums.5 This method disrupts the respiration and metabolism of pests, effectively eliminating them.

As a residue-free approach, it’s ideal for artifact preservation. While it demands longer treatment time and precise oxygen regulation, ongoing research continually enhances its efficiency.

Other pest elimination methods can be considered based on the museum’s specific needs and policies.

Adults and larvae of the warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile), a species also known as cabinet beetles. Photo: DR. MOHAMMED EL DAMIR, BCE

Strategy components

An IPM approach is essential for preserving museum collections. This comprehensive approach encompassing inspection, monitoring, pest identification, and various elimination methods, is the first defense against destructive pests.

Additionally, controlling object movement, staff training in pest prevention, and educating visitors about their role in pest prevention are crucial components of a successful IPM strategy. Effective communication, collaboration and meticulous documentation are vital for continually improving pest management efforts. By following these practices and leveraging the expertise of pest management professionals, museums can safeguard their invaluable collections for posterity.

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The museum’s role in control

Ask your museum clients to do a few things to ensure pest prevention and quick control should a pest population appear. Here are four areas in particular on which to focus. Make sure to spell these out in your initial service proposal and have the client sign off on compliance. Document whenever they fall out of compliance as proof of how a pest issue could have been prevented.

1. Object movement control. A crucial aspect of museum pest management involves controlling the movement of objects. This includes several measures to prevent the introduction or spread of pests:

• Before any objects enter the museum, they undergo thorough inspections to ensure they are not carrying pests.
• Objects that have traveled are quarantined for an agreed-upon period and monitored for signs of pests.
• Regular inspections of visitor areas are conducted to detect any pest activity.

2. Staff training in pest prevention.

Offer training to museum staff so they can:

• Recognize common pests and early signs of infestations.
• Learn proper techniques for handling artifacts to prevent introducing pests.
• Collaborate effectively with your team.
• Take responsibility for reporting and documenting any pest sightings.

Museum staff also should understand the importance of preventing visitors from bringing in potential pest carriers, like backpacks and winter coats. A staffed coatroom or a bank of lockers should be made available before visitors enter exhibits.

3. Ongoing communication and collaboration.

Your success in museum pest management hinges on continuous communication with museum staff. Update them regularly on inspection and monitoring results. Maintain comprehensive records at all times. Roles and responsibilities among all involved parties should be distinctly defined and understood.

Your team should understand museum pest challenges and preventive strategies in depth. Cooperative endeavors between the museum and your experts are a bulwark against infestations, thus preserving our cultural heritage.

4 Documentation.

Meticulous record-keeping practices play a pivotal role in the pest museum plan. These records encompass a broad spectrum of essential information, including detailed accounts of routine inspections and monitoring efforts, documenting areas inspected, findings, and any observed pest activity.

Pest identification records are equally vital, offering insights into the specific pests encountered during inspections and their species and life stages. Furthermore, record comprehensive assessments of pest threats, infestation extents and potential risks. This meticulous documentation extends to corrective actions taken, including the methods employed and their outcomes.

Communication logs capture all relevant exchanges among pest management professionals, museum staff and external experts. In addition, maintaining records of follow-up actions and their effectiveness ensures the continuous improvement of pest management strategies. Tracking and analyzing trends in pest activity and control measures over time aids in refining future approaches.

Document clearly defined responsibilities of your team, the museum staff and other stakeholders. Doing so promotes transparency and accountability. Ultimately, these records comply with pertinent regulations and guidelines, forming a robust foundation for effective and informed decision-making to safeguard museum collections. — M.E.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2025/02/07/tiny-pests-cause-enormous-risk-for-museum-collections/
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