Pests can be a vexing problem for any institution. In the past, pest management involved regular applications of toxic chemicals to collection areas and specimens, giving rise to health and safety concerns. This session presents information on how to develop, implement, and manage an integrated pest management plan (IPM) that protects not only your collection, but also visitors and staff as well. Moderator: Curt Schmitz, Registrar/Exhibits Manager, Idaho Museum of Natural History Presenters: Mary E. Thompson, Senior Collections Manager, Idaho Museum of Natural History R. Jeff Castro, Career Placement Intern, Idaho Museum of Natural History Catie Webb, Associate Registrar, Natural History Museum of Utah

1. Idaho Museum of Natural History

2.  Monitoring
 Inspection
 Identification
 Habitat Modification
 Grounds Housekeeping
 Treatment Action
 Education
 Evaluation
Only you can prevent this!

3. Outside vs. Inside

4.  Are shingles on the roof damaged by winter ice?
 Are they wet, growing moss or fungi?
 Are there holes, gaps, cracks, corroded areas?
 Check for insect or rodent entryways
 Inspect roof areas for birds and bats. Droppings
may harbor infestations

5.  Plants and mulch
encourage insect
activity near exterior
walls
 Do not encourage ivy or
vines to grow on walls
 Check wood outside for
termite activity
 Ensure that water
drains away from the
building

6.  Re-design landscaping
 Adding rock/gravel
will reduce insects
 Use non-flowering
plants
 Contract Pest
Management company
for outside activity such
as termites, ants,
rodents, wasp nests,
etc.

7.  Increases potential for
pest entrance at
basement or entry level
 Grass should be cut
regularly
 Overgrown weeds and
brush is perfect for
rodent breeding

8.  Try to keep lights off
the building and
mount away from
building
 Moths and other bugs
are attracted to UV
lights
 Use Sodium lights
when possible

9.  Remove bird nests in
surrounding areas
 Nests harvest dermestids
and other insects
 Use wire mesh to cover
areas where birds can
nest
 Do not feed pigeons,
which may harbor
clothes moths

10.  Keep doors closed whenever possible
 Make sure doors are properly aligned in frames
 Check cracks or gaps between frames or surrounding walls
 Check for water leakage near doors that might attract occasional
invaders
 For loading dock and outside doors, allow only one door open at a time

11.  Use weather stripping and keep
in good condition
 Flat plate vs. wavy
 Use door sweeps
 Place pest traps near door
entrances

12.  Keep windows closed
 Use blinds, shades, or
curtains
 Use Ultra Violet filters,
replace when needed
 Check for cracks,
insulate window
frames

13.  Inspect regularly for leaks
 Check air vents and ducts
 Change air filters
 Check for insect or rodent
entryways
 Prevent mold growth
which attracts insects by
keeping basements dry
 Insulate water pipes to
prevent water
condensation

14.  Implement a no-food
policy inside collection
areas
 Monitor traps monthly
or bimonthly
 Alert others of your
inspections so that
they can work with
you
 Educate staff

15.  Check underneath rugs or
carpets for any signs of
bugs
 Vacuum frequently,
especially in hard to reach
areas
 After special events check
furniture for food and dirt
left behind

16.  Caulk cracks, crevices, electrical
outlet areas, drainpipes or other
plumbing
 When doing building inspection
check for areas to re-caulk
 Inspect outside walls for entry
ways such as lights, tubing, and
holes that can be caulked

17.  Check and seal outlets
 Watch out for pipe leaks
inside building
 Cover any big holes
found inside

18.  Keep live plants and
flowers inside to a
minimum
 Keep delivered bouquet(s)
at front desk
 Avoid fresh flower display
 Dermestids like to feed on
pollen

19.  NO PETS in or near
collection areas
 Sorry, but they do carry
bugs with them

20.  Dust attracts insects, dead insects are eaten by
dermestids
 Eliminate dust, dirt and particulates as much as
possible
 Develop a maintenance schedule of housekeeping
chores for collection areas
 Work along with facilities/maintenance staff

21.  Protect objects in storage
from dust that will attract
pests by using plastic
sheeting, linen sheets, or
muslin

22.  Dispose of garbage
daily
 Keep garbage
container far away
from building
 Be aware of dumpster
pick up schedule
 Make sure garbage
bins have lids

23.  Limit food and beverage only in
kitchens or break rooms
 Wash dishes immediately and put
away clean dishes
 Put all food refuse in kitchen garbage
cans
 Keep food in containers

24.  Do not leave food
uncovered
 Areas where food is
allowed should be
cleaned daily

25.  Reduce unnecessary material storage
 If you recycle make sure material does
not carry bugs
 Raise all materials off floors and away
from exterior walls on palettes or skids
 Bugs love to hide in cardboard, avoid
creating microclimates

26.  Do not allow bugs to infiltrate by hiding in
other objects or material
 Inspect all packaging material, boxes, crates
and incoming acquisitions or loans for
insect activity
 Before storing objects, vacuum and inspect
 Early detection is important and can prevent
infestations in the future

27. Monitoring
Tools Of The Trade

28. Monitoring
• Create a pest committee and
designate a person(s) that
works with collections to be
the pest manager
Result of insect damage
Frass left behind, notice color is
the same as feathers
 Collection areas should
be inspected regularly
 Objects should be
inspected annually

29. Monitoring: Traps
• Choose an appropriate trap
– Sticky traps
– Pheromone traps
– UV light traps
• Decide on appropriate placement
– Place along perimeter of room
– Hang
• Keep good records
– Make a room layout to identify
location of traps
– Keep log of room numbers and
number your traps
• Use trap covers to prevent loss of traps
and to keep away dust
• Use signs to alert others of trap locations

30. Monitoring:
Trap Covers

31. Identification
• After recording, identify any insects that are
captured
• Correct identification is important to
determine if collection is at risk
• Use published references and consult with
specialist such as entomologist from a
University
• Share knowledge with staff and other
museums

32. Identification: Types of Pests
• Microorganisms
• Vertebrate Pests
• Insects

33. Identification:
Microorganisms
• Mold and/or mildew are a type of
fungus
• Affect proteinaceous and cellulose
based materials
• Spores are carried by insects or
animals
• Prevalent in relative humidity above
65% and above 75° F temperatures
• Noticed by odor, permanent staining,
furry spore growth
• Can be harmful to people with
asthma, allergies, and other
respiratory problems
• Adequate circulation will help
prevent mold growth

34. Identification: Vertebrate Pests
• Mice can climb through a hole the size of a dime
• Carry diseases, reproduce quickly
• Snap traps are inexpensive, place then along the
side of walls
• Do not use poison, because rodents might die
inside walls or crawl spaces and attract insects and
can smell
• For bait use peanut butter or dog food

35. Identification: Insects
• Not all insects found in museums will damage collections
• It’s important to identify the type of materials they need to live
or feed
• Protein feeders
– Common Carpet Beetles & Webbing Clothes Moths
• Woodborers
– Termites & Furniture Beetles
• Mold feeders
– Psocids & Springtails
• Starch feeders
– Silverfish, Firebrat & Psocids
• Omnivores
– Cockroaches & Crickets

36. Dermestids
• Survive in very dry
places, very persistent
• Feed on all dry
proteinaceous materials,
including furs, textiles,
feathers, leather, wool
• Larval stage causes more
significant damage than
adults

37. Odd Beetles (Thylodrias
Contractus)
• Female
• 3-4 mm long, entirely wingless
• “larviform”
 Male
 2 mm long
 Pale tan, slender legs
 Fully winged
 “typical beetle”

38. Odd Beetles: Larva
• 3-4 mm, light brown
with fringe, hairs on
all segments
• Lacks tufts of dense
fine hairs at the end
of body

39. Varied Carpet Beetle
(Anthrenus Verbasci)
• 2-5 mm, oval, compact body
• Speckled or blotched with
patches of colored scales
• Survive in dry places
• Feed on dried proteinaceous
materials, including furs,
textiles
• Similar to Odd beetle but also
will feed on starchy plant
materials

40. Varied Carpet Beetle: Larva
• 3 mm, elongate-oval,
with mix of
long and short
hairs
• Tufts of hair at
the tail end

41. Black Carpet Beetles (Attagenus unicolor)
• 2-3 mm, black, oval,
covered with short
hairs
• Feeds on dry
animal/plant proteins,
dead insects and nests,
animal carcasses,
feathers, hair, etc.

42. Black Carpet Beetles: Larva
• 6-10 mm, tan, with scale-like
setae and long bristles on body,
tapered from head to tail, with
long tassel
• Eats a variety of stored products
of plant or animal origin

43. Other Types of Dermestid Beetles
• Warehouse Beetle (Trogoderma Variable)
– 3-4 mm, elongated, black or dark brown with wavy tan bands on
elytra
– Adults do not feed
• Other Dermestids Include
– Furniture carpet beetle
– Museum beetle
– Wardrobe beetle
– Hide beetle
– Larder beetle
– Cigarette beetle
– Drugstore beetle
Warehouse Beetle

44. Case Making Clothes Moths (Tinea pellionella)
Webbing Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella)
•Eggs, larvae and cocoons on
fabric.
•Shiny, golden-tan without
markings and hide in web tunnels
in crevices
•Targets hair, feathers, fur, wool,
upholstered furniture, piano felt, lint
•Case making clothes moth
adult, larva, and case
•Etch (grazzing) or consume
furs, wool, textiles hides, horn
and plant products

45. Wood boring beetles
• Wood boring insects such as
common furniture beetle, lay
eggs in wood. They also eat
paper
• Wood larvae eat at the wood
for 2-3 years. Powderpost
beetles can damage hard
woods or bamboo
• The wing adults emerge from
holes of woods
• Wood dust or frass may fall off
objects, it can indicate past or
present pest activity

46. Environmental Indicator Bugs
• Minute Brown Scavenger Beetle
• Psocids
• Pill bugs
• Springtails
• Drain flies
• All of these bugs indicate increased
temperature and humidity, or time to clean
out drains
• Keep collections in dry conditions, preferably
in 45° F, relative humidity

47. Minute Brown Scavenger Beetle
(Lathridiidae)
• 1 mm or less, uniformly
pale brown, body parts
distinct, often sculptured
• Requires higher relative
humidity, grazes on mold
spores, mildew, starchy
materials, may etch
surfaces of artifacts

48. Booklice or Psocids
(Liposcelis corrodens)
• Less than 1mm, pale cream-color, wingless or winged, can be
translucent and striped body
• Etch surfaces of starchy or protein-based materials, including
glues, book bindings, new plaster
• Needs relative high humidity environment to breed and survive

49. Pillbugs
• Pillbugs can be found
in moist environments
• Known as nuisance
and occasional
invaders
• Dead bugs can attract
dermestids

50. Springtails
• May be regional insect
• Show up in abundance
where there is a moist
environment
• Nuisance and found in
doorways where water
may flow in

51. Drain Flies And Other Moths
Drain fly
• Drain flies surface in drains
that require cleaning and draining
• Occasionally you will find moths
that are not very harmful but are
attracted by lights and will find
their way inside

52. Silverfish and Firebrat
(Lepismatidae, Thysanura)
• 10-15mm, silvery to pale brown, flattened and
tapered body, found in cool damp areas
• Firebrat has more coloration but looks much like a
silverfish minus the silver coloring, found in warm
areas
• Feed on books, binding, paper, clothes, wallpaper
paste, food starches

53. Roaches
• German Cockroach (Blatella germanica)
Shiny pale tan with dark longtidinal markins,
fully winged, omnivorous, reproduce quickly
• Oriental Cockroach (Blatta Orientalis)
Shiny dark brown to black, short wings, back
is in shape of diamond
• American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Reddish brown, fully winged, needs moisture
and warmth
• Wood Cockroach
Slender body, light brown, predominant
wings, found in mulch
• Seal crevices, keep food areas clean, maintain
general sanitation
Oriental Roach

54. Reporting
• Record data in log sheet and distribute
• Logged data should be kept to analyze
for trends and seasonal activity
• Establish thresholds…(e.g. finding two
Varied Carpet Beetles is too many,
immediate action needs to be taken)

55. If You Notice Live Pests In The Building
• Collect insects intact
• Put in Ziploc bag, label with
date, location, and initials
• Notify collection or
conservation staff to identify
• The area should be inspected
and, if necessary, thoroughly
cleaned
• Have bug boxes available for
people to place questionable
bugs
• Keep a log of all bugs found

56. If You Notice Live Pests On An Object
• Call designated pest management person or/and
conservator immediately
• Do not move the object
• Any infested object and/or drawer must be bagged
before moving to any other location
• Conservator or Collections staff will fill out a Pest
Incident Report
• The area should be thoroughly cleaned afterwards
• Identify pest and evaluate problem
• Document any necessary treatment

57. Isolation
• Isolate infested objects immediately by
sealing them in a polyethylene bag
•If possible
separate
objects or
material that
can not be
frozen, or
treated right
away

58. Treatment: Freezing
• For best results keep
objects at - 42º for one
week
• Once removed let them
thaw for 24hrs

59. Treatment: Anoxia
• Ageless Packets and
Marvel Seal can absorb
all oxygen from
isolated object and kill
bugs
CO2 Bubble

60. Summary
• Implement a yearly building inspection
• Designate one or two weeks out of a year
to ensure thorough housekeeping
• Keep record and analyze
• Establish action thresholds
• Learn your bugs!

61. Integrated Pest
Management:
Policy
CURT SCHMITZ, REGISTRAR & EXHIBITS
MANAGER, IDAHO MUSEUM OF NATURAL
HISTORY

62. Definition
 According to Nicola Ladkin, Museum
of Texas Tech University-
 “Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is
a decision-making process that helps
you determine if, when, and where
you need pest suppression. IPM uses a
variety of techniques to prevent and
solve pest problems using pesticides as
a last resort. It depends on knowledge
of the pest’s habits, ecology, and the
environment in which is thrives and
survives.”

63. Types of Pests
 Organisms
such as:
Insects
Rodents
Reptiles
Fungi
From www.jefpat.org

64. 3 key ideas in an IPM plan
Prevention
Least-Toxic Method
Systematic Approach

65. Goals of an IPM plan
 Protect the museum and its
collections from pests
Reduce the amount of
pesticides used in the
collections
 Protect the staff and visitors
from pests, their effects, and
the effects of any pesticides

66. Components of an IPM
plan
Exclusion
Monitoring
Identification
Treatment
Evaluation

67. Exclusion
 First line of defense for the museum
 Questions to Ponder:
 Exterior questions:
 Where are the openings in the exterior of my building(s)?
 Do I have control over all of the exterior openings?
 Interior questions:
 What are your ceilings/floors/walls made of?
 Where are the water/electrical lines in your building(s)?
 Is there a loading dock/area?
 How does traffic typically flow in your building(s)?

68. Exclusion: Cont.
 Physical Exclusion
 Idea of using the building itself as a barrier
 Do things such as:
 Sealing or otherwise mitigating openings
 Separate collections and gallery areas from
activity areas and collections
 Habitat and Sanitation
 Idea of preventing infestations by removing
any sources of habitat, food, or water by
keeping areas clean and maintained

69. Monitoring
 Initial Monitoring
 Procedures used when any object or
material enters the museum
 Regular Monitoring
 Procedures used to regularly monitor the
museum
 Questions to Ponder:
 If found, at which life stage are the pests?
 Is there a readily available source of food,
water, or warmth?

70. Identification
 Procedures used to identify and
evaluate the results of the
monitoring program
 Once the monitoring program has
run for at least a full year, a section
on the common pests and problem
areas present in your museum
should be added
 Include an example of your
institution’s Pest Incident form

71. Treatment
 Dictates the procedures,
methods, and levels of how to
properly address an infestation
 Methods fall into two
categories:
Physical Controls
Chemical Controls

72. Physical & Chemical
Controls
 Physical controls:
 Traps
 Mechanical Cleaning
 Freezer Treatment
 Anoxic Treatment
 Chemical controls:
 Primarily pesticides:
 Different types:
 Low toxicity residual dusts
 Liquid bait stations

73. Evaluation
 This important component deals with
protocol used to evaluate the effectiveness
of your IPM
 The importance of this component cannot
be understated as the IPM process is as
adaptive and dynamic as the pests they
combat
 Further establishing a regular schedule of
review for your IPM policy will allow your
institution to best prevent infestations by
accommodating new changes and
information

74. Online Resources
 For examples of IPMs:
 www.museumpests.net/ipm-policy-and-procedure-example-documents/
 Good general references:
 MuseumPests.net home site
 www.museumpests.net
 NPS’s Museum Handbook
 www.nps.gov/museum/publications/handbook.html
 NPS Conserv O Grams
 www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/cons_toc.htm
l
 The Getty Conservation Institute newsletter, Conservation
Perspectives
 www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/newsletters/

75. References:
 Johnson, Jessica S. “Biological Infestations.” In National Park Service
Museum Handbook: Part 1 Museum Collections, edited by Museum
Management Program Preservation & Protection Team, 5:1-5:15.
National Park Service, 2005.
www.nps.gov/museum/publications/handbook.html.
 Cumberland, Barbara. “Biological Infestations.” In Museum Collection
Integrated Pest Management Plan: Klondike Gold Rush National
Historical Park, Seattle Unit, 1. Harpers Ferry, WV: National Park Service
Harpers Ferry Center, 2009. Accessed August 1, 2014.
http://www.nps.gov/klse/parkmgmt/upload/KLSE-MUSEUM-COLLECTION-
IPM-PLAN-draft-2009.pdf.
 Raphael, Toby. “An Insect Pest Control Procedure: The Freezing
Process.” In National Park Service Conserv o Gram 3/6, 1. Harpers Ferry,
WV: National Park Service Harpers Ferry Center, 1994. Accessed August
1, 2014. http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/03-
06.pdf.
 Ladkin, Nicola. “Pollutants and Pests.” Lecture, Museum of Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, TX, October 28, 2010.
 Green, Albert, and Nancy L. Breisch. “Integrated Pest Management.” In
Museum Registration Methods. 5th ed, edited by Rebecca A. Buck and
Jean Allman Gilmore, 369-80. Washington, DC: The AAM Press, 2010.

76. IF YOU
SEE
SOMETHING
SQUISH
SOMETHING
(Partnered with the Idaho Museum of Natural History)

77. Create Staff Buy-In for IPM
with These Simple Tricks . . .
●Education is Essential
●Presence of Pest-Mindfulness
●Go Ahead and Gross Out
●Perpetual Practice

78. EDUCATION
● Raising awareness of IPM begins with basic staff
education
● Present the fundamentals of your IPM policy in a
simple, understandable manner at staff orientations
and training
● Try to familiarize new staff with IPM practices as
early on as possible, this encourages initial
development of good practices.

80. EDUCATION
● It's important explain why we practice IPM
to create emotional buy-in
● Who and What are we protecting?
● Giving employees purpose, ownership and
empowerment encourages sharing of
ideas and protocol
● We are ALL stewards of collections

81. PRESENCE
●Having visual and
personal cues relating
to your IPM program
helps establish a pest-prevention
mindset
●Recruit other
departments to
promote your policy;
create an IPM Team

83. PRESENCE
●Give updates and presentations on the success
(or lack thereof) of your IPM program.
●Send out habitual e-mail reminders to staff
about your IPM program to reinforce practices.

84. GROSS OUT

85. GROSS OUT
●When people are
bothered by and can
see the problem,
they're more inclined
to help you seek a
solution.
●Share images (in
moderation) of
particularly nasty and
scary pest problems.

86. PERPETUAL PRACTICE
●IPM must be practiced continually in order to
be most effective.
●IPM is EASY when everyone pitches in.
●Be sure to say “THANK YOU” to people you see
following protocol; this reinforces good
practices and empowers your employees.

88. PERPETUAL PRACTICE
●Get creative; re-frame
practicing pest
management to be fun.
●If possible, include IPM as
part of employee
evaluations to create
accountability.

89. Where Do
I Start?
• Use your priority resources
required for buy-in: your
staff. Ask what they would
like to see with regards to
pest management
• Get to know your facilities
staff especially well, IPM
will make both of your jobs
easier.
• Have friends outside of the
museum field review IPM
with you, see if they can
understand it, and what you
need to do to simplify

90. Acknowledgements & Resources
●Bountiful Ideas & Inspirations courtesy of NHMU
Registrar Janaki Krishna
●Original Artwork Provided by NHMU Exhibit Preparator,
Emily Szalay
●Sign Design Provided by Paleontology Intern Andy
Wyllie
●Special Thanks to Mary Thompson, Curt Schmitz & Jeff
Castro for inviting me to present alongside them