Heritage organisations are responsible for the safe keeping of their collections, but did you know that one of our greatest threats is from insects which love to eat them?
Follow the blog to find out how we protect our collections by identifying the most vulnerable (munchable) objects, how we protect them with good storage, and what we need to do in case they are infested or damaged.
In this series of seven audio tracks, hear from our preventive conservators and pest management experts about how we’re always working to keep the collection safe from the damage caused by pests.
Integrated Pest Management manager Adrian Doyle on IPM at the British Museum
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/01-adrian-doyle-introduction/s-ZnD0w?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
Left to right: Monique Pullan, Adrian Doyle, Sophie Rowe, Emily Farrell, Fabiana Portoni
Conservator Monique Pullan on the Great Court
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/02-monique-pullan-the-great/s-iL6tN?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
Totem poles in the Great Court
Conservator Sophie Rowe on New Zealand objects
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/03-sophie-rowe-new-zealand/s-QMEHX?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
Left to right: A. Sarnicus adults, A. Sarnicus larvae, A. Smirnovae adults
Conservator Fabiana Portoni on African masks
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/04-fabiana-portoni-african/s-lTy2h?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
A woodborer-damaged floorboard
Conservator Monique Pullan on African textiles
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/05-monique-pullan-african/s-vSUft?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
Textiles in the Africa Gallery
Conservator Sophie Rowe on North American textiles
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/06-sophie-rowe-north-america/s-sMNBC?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
Textiles in the North America Gallery
Conservator Monique Pullan on the Larrakitj poles at the Museum
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/07-monique-pullan-larrakitj/s-R3bfz?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
Larrakitj poles
Conservator Fabiana Portoni on the mask from Torres Strait Island
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/08-fabiana-portoni-australia/s-FT8Ah?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
Torres Strait Island mask
IPM manager Adrian Doyle on the new Hotung Gallery of China and Southeast Asia
https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/09-adrian-doyle-the-hotung/s-fl3Ey?in=britishmuseum/sets/the-british-museum-ipm-blog-bugs/s-rUsW8
The Hotung Gallery of China and Southeast Asia
Thank you to Science Communications masters’ student Emily Farrell who worked with us to produce this blog.
