Insects, especially moths and beetles, are major threats to museum, archive and library objects made of vulnerable organic materials. Over the years insect pests have grievously attacked, damaged or destroyed countless irreplaceable or irretrievable artifacts and cultural properties and assets.

 
Museum pests love to eat books!

Museum staff worldwide struggle with the complex problems of insect pest infestation, made more complex by the need to avoid risks to artifacts and to personnel posed by hazardous and reactive biocides. In recent years, after the harmful effects on humans of pesticides such as PCP, DDT and Lindane and fumigants such as ethylene oxide and methyl bromide were found, safer pest control techniques in museums have become increasingly necessary.

Today it is agreed that successful pest control methods in museums requires an integrated approach (IPM) that includes assessment, monitoring, preventive procedures, and active treatment and cures.

 
Books and historic records in libraries and archives are always open to attack by insect pests like Anobium punctatum and Stegobium paniceum

 
Precious artefacts are a delicious substrate for museum and libraries pests

 

Stegobium-infestations of historic books and pest life stages found in organic materials

 
Monitoring of pests by pheromone traps (webbing cloth moths)

 
Potential substrates for insect pests in storage facilities of museums: wood, textiles, furs etc.

In museums, for pest control there is no future for traditional poisonous chemicals like DDT, PCP, Lindane. Long-term studies have shown that pesticides can cause harm to their operators, pollute the environment, and may alter or damage artifacts and rare antiquities by chemical reaction.

 
Curators take care of artefacts: Their work is very important to preserve the cultural heritage