Can you place them in sealed bags (acid free of course) in your curatorial work area where you can monitor them to see if anything starts crawling around in them? Then you can do the freeze/thaw method to kill them if you have access to a freezer.

Contact a local conservator for more info on the procedure, though I'm sure a few will be posting soon

Susan Gonzalez

Archivist

Hosltein Canada

Brantford, Ontario

-----Original Message-----
From: Santa Fe Trail Center [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 1:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Bugs in display case

Dear List Serve,

I am new to the museum field and I want to be sure to handle a bug problem correctly. The museum I am at has a IPM program but does not specify how to deal with getting the bugs out of an exhibit. It simply covers the preventative aspect.

In several displays there are a number of dead (at least they are not moving-at all) bugs, about the size of a fruit fly. I am concerned because the objects are leather, beads, and horse hair. We are a small museum and do not have a lot of funds. When I have removed the objects and cleaned the display should I return them to the display and keep a close eye on them? I do not want to remove the objects and place them where it could potentially lead to a wider spread infestation. I do not have any place to place them, other than the display, where they would be separate from the rest of the collection.

Any help regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

Becca
========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).