Insect Pest Management in Cultural Heritage Environments

Insect pests are a pervasive threat to tangible cultural heritage, particularly to collections, historic buildings and archival materials worldwide. Organic‐based artefacts such as paper, textiles, wood and leather provide nutritional resources for a diverse assemblage of insects including silverfish, carpet beetles, wood‐boring beetles and clothes moths. These organisms can cause irreversible damage, leading to loss of historical information and material integrity. Effective management hinges upon understanding pest biology, habitat requirements and seasonal activity patterns. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) frameworks have become central, combining environmental monitoring, preventive conservation measures and targeted interventions. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and light influence insect life cycles and activity levels, while anthropogenic factors, including building maintenance and visitor flows, can introduce and spread infestations. Technological advances in non‐chemical treatments, microclimate control and digital monitoring are reshaping best practices. Collaborative efforts between conservation scientists, museum professionals and entomologists underpin the development of bespoke strategies suited to the unique conditions of each heritage site. Emergent challenges such as climate change and the spread of non‐native pests underscore the need for adaptive, evidence‐based approaches. By integrating ecological principles with conservation ethics, it is possible to safeguard cultural assets against current and future entomological threats.

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Insect Pest Management in Cultural Heritage Environments publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in insect pest management in cultural heritage environments across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): a holistic strategy combining monitoring, prevention, cultural and targeted control methods to minimise pest damage while reducing chemical use.
Silverfish (Zygentoma): small, wingless, bristle-tailed insects that consume carbohydrate-rich materials such as paper, glue and textiles in heritage collections.
Pheromone Trap: a device utilising species-specific chemical attractants to lure and capture pests for early detection and population assessment.
Synanthropic Species: organisms that thrive in human-modified environments, often exploiting buildings as habitat and food sources.

References

1. Regularity in distribution, and control, of pests in the hall of mental cultivation, the Forbidden City, Beijing, China. Heritage Science (2021).
2. Climate Change and Its Effects on Indoor Pests (Insect and Fungi) in Museums. Climate (2022).
3. Identification and Spread of the Ghost Silverfish (Ctenolepisma calvum) among Museums and Homes in Europe. Insects (2022).
4. Insect Pests and Integrated Pest Management in Museums, Libraries and Historic Buildings. Insects (2015).