Our goal is to be the most comprehensive source of information and support for those implementing integrated pest management policies and procedures in collections-holding and cultural heritage institutions.

Up to 54% of collections have reported damage from pestsIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) is a proactive preventive approach that dramatically reduces pests in your building and increases safety to staff and visitors by reducing the use of pesticides, which saves your institution money in the long-term.

Tips for Use

The site’s first four sections (prevention, monitoring, identification, solutions) cover issues in developing, implementing, and managing an IPM plan for your institution – whatever your collection type.  Each element is explained with detailed information, samples of documents and forms, and links that you can follow to access even more resources.

  • PREVENTION – Implementing IPM & preventing pest access
  • MONITORING – Monitoring & tracking pest populations
  • IDENTIFICATION – Identifying potential pest threats
  • SOLUTIONS – Treating outbreaks in the safest manner possible
  • VERTEBRATES – For pests with fewer than 6 legs
  • RESOURCES – Additional resources pertaining to IPM
  • CONFERENCES – Content from major IPM conferences
  • BLOG – Updates on MuseumPests-Working Group activities
  • FAQ – Answers to common questions
  • ABOUT US – Learn about the group behind MuseumPests.net

You can also use the Search feature on the main menu bar to find resources from throughout the site related to your search topic.

 

Our goal is to be the most comprehensive source of information and support for those implementing integrated pest management policies and procedures in collections-holding and cultural heritage institutions.

Up to 54% of collections have reported damage from pestsIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) is a proactive preventive approach that dramatically reduces pests in your building and increases safety to staff and visitors by reducing the use of pesticides, which saves your institution money in the long-term.

Tips for Use

The site’s first four sections (prevention, monitoring, identification, solutions) cover issues in developing, implementing, and managing an IPM plan for your institution – whatever your collection type.  Each element is explained with detailed information, samples of documents and forms, and links that you can follow to access even more resources.

  • PREVENTION – Implementing IPM & preventing pest access 
  • MONITORING – Monitoring & tracking pest populations
  • IDENTIFICATION – Identifying potential pest threats
  • SOLUTIONS – Treating outbreaks in the safest manner possible
  • RESOURCES – Additional resources pertaining to IPM
  • CONFERENCES – Content from major IPM conferences
  • BLOG – Updates on MuseumPests-Working Group activities
  • FAQ – Answers to common questions
  • ABOUT US – Learn about the group behind MuseumPests.net

You can also use the Search feature on the main menu bar to find resources from throughout the site related to your search topic.

 

In Memorium: Mel Houston 1967-1923

In Memorium Mel Houston, ACR 1967-2023 Mel Houston died -- aged just 55 -- on Sunday 1st January. Some will have known her through her work as a preventive conservator, first at The National Trust for Scotland which she joined in 2007 and then, from 2020, at the...

2024 MuseumPests & Pest Odyssey Public Presentation Session

MAY 14, 2024 Note that all times are listed in U.S. eastern times as well as U.K. time zones. Zoom access information has been sent to the PestList for those interested in listening to the presentations. The session will be recorded. 10.00 EDT/15.00 BSTWelcome and...

2024 MPWG Meeting Projects

During the 2024 meeting participants will work with one of the website's content committees (see below). Each group has listed initial goals for the meeting's work sessions and new action items may be added based on group discussions and new feedback.   TOPIC:...

2024 MuseumPests Meeting Schedule

The schedule for the in-person 2024 MPWG meeting is subject to change. Virtual participants will be sent a link to the main virtual meeting room which will be used to begin and end each day. Sub-committees will provide additional virtual meeting links as needed.  DAY...

2024 MuseumPests Working Group Program Announcement

March 20-22, 2024 IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL MEETING We are excited to meet with in-person again this year. We are grateful to Jessica Pace and NYU Libraries for their ability and willingness to host us in New York.  The program is scheduled for 2.5 days, beginning with...

2023 MuseumPests are back in person! – Session Recap

MuseumPests are back in person!  For the first time since we last got together in 2020 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, we are back! Once again at the Met.  Some of us got the meeting started going to see Adam Osgood’s incredible harmonica skills at his...

2023 MuseumPests Working Group Program Announcement

March 15-17, 2023 IN-PERSON MEETING After two years of virtual meetings, we are excited to return to an in-person meeting format this year. We are grateful to our colleagues at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Director’s Office and Department of Scientific...

2nd MuseumPests Public Presentation Session March 3, 2022

Join us for MuseumPests Second Public Presentation Session on March 3 starting at 12:00 U.S. Eastern Time.  In order to receive the direct Zoom webinar link please RSVP by March 1. If you do not RSVP you will be able to watch via Facebook live. The session will be...

MuseumPests 2022 Virtual Working Group Schedule

19th MuseumPests Working Group Meeting Hosted by: ZOOM! Schedule DAY 1 – Tuesday, March 1 8:45 amLog-in to Zoom say hi to your colleagues 9:00-9:30Digital Introductions9:30-10:00Introduce subgroup projects:- Prevention- Identification - Solutions - Vertebrates-...

2022 MPWG Virtual Meeting Projects

Check out our list of topics and projects to see what you might want to work on or contribute during the 2021 Virtual Working Group Meeting March 1-2, 2022. TOPIC: Prevention CONTENT LEADER: Matt MickletzPROJECTS/GOALS:  Continue working on the Developing Policy...

ANNOUNCEMENTS :

SUPPORT MuseumPests.net and the PestList!
MuseumPests is an all volunteer effort. But we raise funds when major upgrades to this site are needed. Our Webmaster/Programmer Leon Zak has kept us running for 19 years.  Your online donation or purchase of MuseumPests swag will support the site, keeping resources freely available for the cultural heritage IPM community.  Read more about our fundraising campaign.

MuseumPests 2024 Meeting

The Working Group conducted its 21st March 20-22, 2024 in person at New York University’s Bobst Library. Read about the meeting and the site improvements the group worked on by checking out our Blog page. If you would like to attend a future meeting please use the Contact Us page on the site to be added to our mailing list for future updates. The MPWG plans to organize a third MuseumPests Presents! Session on May 14, 2024 in conjunction with the U.K. Pest Odyssey group. The call for abstracts will be shared on the PestList. To view past presentations visit our Conferences page or access the videos from our YouTube channel or  MuseumPests Facebook page.

Noteworthy

Did you know that between 30-50 people meet every year to update MuseumPests and develop new resources? Read more about the group on the About Us section of the site and our Blog.  Since its inception, the group behind the site called itself the Integrated Pest Management Working Group (IPM-WG).  In 2019 we officially changed our name to the MuseumPests Working Group (MPWG). We aren’t just for the benefit of museums but it is a catchier name than the Museum, Library, Archive, Historic House and Collection-holding IPM Working Group (MLAHHCHIPM-WG). Mostly the change in name means that we don’t have to specify that we are the group behind MuseumPests.net!

MuseumPests is Social

Want to keep up with MP-WG activities and members? Check out our social media presence on Twitter @MuseumPests, Instagram @museumpestsFacebook and visit the MuseumPests YouTube channel to view the curated playlists of videos on IPM topics.  If you have a post or video that you’d like to add, contact our social media team at social@museumpests.net.

U.K. & European IPM Working Group Updates

Stay tuned for information on the Conference for Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage (IPM) International to be held in Berlin, September 2024 

Integrated Pest Management for Collections, the post-prints from the 2021 Pest Odyssey conference.in London is now available for purchase. Visit the Pest Odyssey site for to listen to a recording of the papers presented at the Pest Odyssey Network’s July 2020 open meeting centered around the theme Pest Off with COVID and Other Stories.

Access the postprints and posters from 4th international conference on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Stockholm, Sweden,  21-23 May 2019.

Search the PestList Archives

Find answers to common questions using our PestList archive – http://www.mail-archive.com/pestlist@museumpests.net

Call for Images

The MuseumPests Image Gallery is always interested in adding images of pests, damage to museum collections as well as IPM activities in progress.  If you have any you are willing to share, please submit them via our image submissions page.

Sponsorship & Participating Institutions

We are grateful for the generous sponsorship of the organizations that helped fund the creation of this website as well as the support of the participating institutions whose staff has contributed time, talent and resources to build & maintain this site.

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