Please note that spiders are not museum pests.  Spiders are present in collections when they are feeding on some other creatures that most likely are museum pests.  Although we do not want spiders in our collections, either, the goal of Integrated Pest Management is to get rid of the collection pests so that the spiders will go away of their own accord.  

 

Although many pest control companies will "spray for spiders," in truth there are very few poisons that will kill spiders.  The correct way to handle this situation is to quarantine the collection (for example, by sealing the artifacts temporarily in polyethylene bags) until you can determine what pests the collection has, then apply appropriate control measures specifically targeted at those pests, that are designed to protect the artifacts.  Please do not just use some general fumigant or repellant without thoroughly researching it first. 

 

Sincerely,

John

 

John E. Simmons

Natural History Museum and Musem Studies Program

University of Kansas



	-----Original Message----- 

	From: Museum discussion list on behalf of Stephanie Daniels 

	Sent: Tue 1/4/2005 3:18 PM 

	To: [log in to unmask] 

	Cc: 

	Subject: Pest Infestation

	

	



	We are acquiring a large collection that is known to be infested with

	brown recluse spiders.  It has been suggested that the artifacts be

	treated with a chemical that is the crystalline form of common moth

	balls.  Does anyone have a better, less toxic method for dealing with

	spiders?

	--

	Stephanie L. Daniels

	Collections Specialist

	ITARP

	209 Nuclear Physics Lab

	23 Stadium

	Champaign IL  61820

	ph. 217-333-0263

	

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