Guests in the collections

A Museum’s activity is known especially through exhibitions, heritage presentations and restoration activities, which are considered to be spectacular. Less known to the audience are those insects that feed themselves with museum collections and become “guests” of museum heritage, especially of biological specimens. These insects thrive on a wide range of trophic sources from garbage to artwork and museum heritage. Based on chemical composition, the organic material is more likely to be attacked by these biological pests, if environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) are proper. The effects are obvious and manifested by a deterioration of the physical and chemical structure of the pieces and can cause drastic forms if the attacks remain uncontrolled. Over the years, these “guests” have acquired adaptive mechanisms being increasingly specialized and that their control is a permanent struggle.
The exhibition illustrates this complex phenomenon encountered in all organic heritages hosted by museums worldwide, displaying pieces affected by these “guests” – pest species, a phenomenon that is closely monitored and struggle against by the conservators. The efforts sustained by both conservators and curators make the organic nature collections dated in late 19th century to be well preserved to the present in our museum. The pieces on display present a conservation status that is affected by these “guests” – insect pests; the exhibition is further documented through photographic material. Moreover, there are presented insights for some pest control methods.