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Tineola bisselliella (Webbing clothes moth)
© National Museums Scotland
Tineola bisselliella (Webbing clothes moth)
© National Museums Scotland
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Despite entomology curators having a great fondness for insects, there are some that we do NOT want to see in collections...those that are considered pests!
There are several species of insect (primarily moths and beetles) that will feed on dead, dry insects, causing irreversible damage. If these insects gain access to specimens and go undetected, they can destroy entire collections.
Below are examples of pests that pose a risk to insect collections in the UK.
Bear in mind that these images show pests in their adult stages. For most species, it is the immature stages that cause the feeding damage, but these can often be harder to spot.
The following species of moths can cause damage to entomology collections:
Some beetles can also cause irreversible damage to entomology collections if not properly monitored or controlled.
Examples include:
The key signs of pest infestations to look out for are:
Frass is the term given for insect poo. It may look like a fine ‘dust’ below the specimen, but can in fact be an indicator that pests are present in your storage.
Exuviae (cast skins) are the remains left behind when an insect moults.
TIP: Look in the corners of the drawer or box and on the specimen itself for cast skins.
Specimens with broken or missing appendages and missing specimens (for example a blank card mount or empty pin) can be signs of pest infestations.
Some live insects and other invertebrates found in museums are not true pests. However, their presence can indicate that the environmental conditions (such as temperature and humidity) are unsuitable for collections.
Examples include:
Find further information on environmental control in the Preservation and storage of insects.
Other insects may simply be seeking shelter during the winter period (such as Cluster flies and some species of Ladybird), or accidentally wander in during the warmer months (such as Ground beetles).
To prevent infestation and stop pests entering your collection in the first place you must:
Specimens with infestations are a risk to the wider collection. Additionally, any new material entering the collections area poses a risk to the existing collection. Suspected infestations and new material should therefore always be quarantined and, ideally, have low-temperature treatment applied.
Watch the video to learn how to prepare your objects and specimens for quarantine and freezing.
These are the basic steps for quarantine and freezing covered in the video:
Learn more about how to deal with infestation in our Integrated Pest Management training.
It’s also helpful to:
When you're ready, move onto the next section.
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