Assessing Collection Vulnerability

Determining which materials are most susceptible to attacks by certain pests will help make inspections more efficient, help determine which solutions are most appropriate, and inform decisions on housekeeping and other preventive measures. 

Several factors can affect the vulnerability of an item to pests. Of these, the item’s composition is most significant, but other influential factors include current condition and storage location. For example, residue from use, surface dirt, stains (particularly food or sweat) and high moisture content can encourage infestation. Collections may also be vulnerable because of their location history. For example, new acquisitions and returned loans may carry pests into a collection. Collections that were previously infested are likely to be vulnerable to recurring or new infestations. Previous infestations should be documented and these collections should be monitored.

Pests generally prefer warm, dark, undisturbed areas to live and reproduce. In collections this can include the undersides of carpets, within seams and linings of textiles, backs of paintings, and closed drawers. Within buildings these areas can include corners, basements, behind walls, below floorboards, within dropped ceilings and duct work. Collections stored near or in these areas are particularly vulnerable, as are collections stored next to pest attractants such as packing materials (cardboard), garbage, food preparation and storage areas. Touring exhibitions and loan objects are also at risk of pest issues.

Case Studies

Below is information sorted by material type to help protect your collection against pest damage. However, it should be remembered that not all items are suitable for treatment so if you are unsure about the most appropriate treatment or solution for your object you should contact a conservator for advice. Never treat a parcel on behalf of someone else without knowing for sure what it contains. Visual inspection should be a minimum requirement to all incoming material as a preventive measure. Vulnerable materials are found in many types of collections. These materials include: 

 

Collection or Material Type

Associated Pests

Solutions/Treatments

Natural History Specimens

Insects

Anthrenus sarnicus (Guernsey carpet beetle)

Anthrenus verbasci (varied carpet beetle)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Lasiderma serricorne (cigarette beetle)

Stegobium paniceum (drugstore beetle)

Thylodrias contractus (odd beetle)

Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle)

Trogoderma spp. (warehouse beetle)

Tineola bisselliella (webbing clothes moth)

Liposcelidae spp. (booklice) 

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Desiccated biological specimens

Dermestes ater (black larder beetle)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Dermestes maculatus  (hide beetle)

Necrobia rufipes (red legged ham beetle)

Stegobium paniceum (drugstore beetle)

Thylodrias contractus (odd beetle)

Trogoderma variabile (warehouse beetle)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Taxidermy and study skins

Dermestes ater (black larder beetle)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Dermestes maculatus  (hide beetle)

Trogoderma variabile (warehouse beetle)

Tineola bisselliella (webbing clothes moth)

Mus domesticus (mouse)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Cellulosic Materials

Wood

Anobium punctatum (furniture beetle or woodworm)

Dermestes ater (black larder beetle)

Lyctidae spp. (true powderpost beetle)

Xestobium rufovillosum (deathwatch beetle)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Visual inspection

Cleaning

Plant materials (dried botanical specimens, basketry, bark cloth, cordage)

Lasiderma serricorne (cigarette beetle)

Lyctidae spp. (true powderpost beetle)

Ptinus tectus (spider beetle)

Stegobium paniceum (drugstore beetle)

Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Visual inspection

Paper, books, cardboard

Lasiderma serricorne (cigarette beetle)

Ptinus tectus (spider beetle)

Lepisma saccharina (silverfish)

Perilaneta americana (American cockroach)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Visual inspection

Plant based textiles (linen, hemp, cotton, rope etc.) Generally not vulnerable unless starched (then silverfish, firebrats, cockroach) or stained with protein residue then same as wool and leather pests.

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Proteinaceous Materials

Wool, Feathers Horn Quill Hair Fur Baleen

Anthrenus sarnicus (Guernsey carpet beetle)

Anthrenus verbasci (varied carpet beetle)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Ptinus tectus (spider beetle)

Thylodrias contractus (odd beetle)

Tineola bisselliella (webbing or common clothes moth)

Tinea pellionella (casemaking clothes moth)

Perilaneta americana (American cockroach)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Leather / hide (and hide glue) / skin, sinew cordage

Anthrenus sarnicus (Guernsey carpet beetle)

Anthrenus verbasci (varied carpet beetle)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Dermestes maculatus  (hide beetle)

Ptinus tectus (spider beetle)

Stegobium paniceum (drugstore beetle)

Trogoderma variabile (warehouse beetle)

Low Temperature Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Wool and silk based textiles

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Dermestes maculatus  (hide beetle)

Anthrenus verbasci (varied carpet beetle)

Lasiderma serricorne (cigarette beetle)

Thylodrias contractus (odd beetle)

Tineola bisselliella (webbing or common clothes moth

Tinea pellionella (case-making clothes moth)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Historic Building Components

Wooden structures

Anobium punctatum (furniture beetle or woodworm)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Lyctidae spp. (true powderpost beetle)

Xestobium rufovillosum (deathwatch beetle)

Retculitermes flavipes (subterranean termites)

Camponotus pennsylvanicus (carpenter ants)

Xylocopa violacea (carpenter bees)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Visual inspection

Insulation

Perilaneta americana (American cockroach)

Lepisma saccharina (silverfish)

Liposcelidae spp. (booklice or psocids)

Dehumidification (HVAC)
 Wall paper and adhesive

Perilaneta americana (American cockroach)

Lepisma saccharina (silverfish)

Visual inspection Cleaning
 Plaster

Ahasverus advena (Foreign grain beetle)

Latridiidae spp. (plaster beetle)

Liposcelidae spp. (booklice or psocids)

Dehumidification (HVAC)
Wooden floor boards and floor voids

Anthrenus verbasci (varied carpet beetle)

Lasiderma serricorne (cigarette beetle)

Ptinus tectus (spider beetle)

Stegobium paniceum (drugstore beetle)

Hofmannophila psuedospretella (brown house moth)

Tinea pellionella (casemaking clothes moth)

Tineola bisselliella (webbing or common clothes moth

Visual inspection

Cleaning

Desiccant dust

Attics

Anobium punctatum (furniture beetle or woodworm)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Lyctidae spp. (true powderpost beetle)

Xestobium rufovillosum (deathwatch beetle)

Lepisma saccharina (silverfish)

Rattus norvegicus (Norway Rat)

Bats

Birds (e.g. Passer domesticus – House Sparrow)

Visual inspection

Cleaning

Desiccant dust

Dehumidification (HVAC)

Fine Art Materials
Painting on canvas Generally not vulnerable. Visual inspection
Painting on wood panel

Anobium punctatum (furniture beetle or woodworm)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Lyctidae spp. (true powderpost beetle)

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Visual inspection

Works on paper

Lasiderma serricorne (cigarette beetle)

Ptinus tectus (spider beetle)

Perilaneta americana (American cockroach)

Lepisma saccharina (silverfish)

Anoxia Visual inspection

Inorganic Materials

Stone Generally not vulnerable. Outdoor sculpture can be vulnerable to damage from pigeon and bat droppings.

Visual inspection

Cleaning

Metal Generally not vulnerable. Outdoor sculpture can be vulnerable to damage from pigeon and bat droppings. Additionally squirrel gnawing of lead.

Visual inspection

Cleaning

Ceramic and Glass Generally not vulnerable. Could be damaged from fly spots, etc. Visual inspection Cleaning

Storing and Shipping Components

Plywood, new, unseasoned wood,
Non-archival cardboard, tissue paper Starch chips (packing peanuts)

Anthrenus verbasci (varied carpet beetle)

Lepisma saccharina (Linnaeus)

Thermobia domestica (firebrat)

Lasiderma serricorne (cigarette beetle)  

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

New Construction Components

Plywood Insulation

Anobium punctatum (furniture beetle or woodworm)

Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)

Lyctidae spp. (true powderpost beetle)

Xestobium rufovillosum (deathwatch beetle)

Low Temperature Treatment

Heat Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Oxygen Scavenger Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Controlled Atmosphere – Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment

Updated 2025

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