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Gretchen -
I've found American cockroaches and brown recluse spiders love sub-surface
floor pipe chases as highways and nesting areas respectively in old buildings.
Tom Parker
-Original Message-
From: Anderson, Gretchen anders...@carnegiemnh.org
To: pestlist pestlist@museumpests.net
Sent: Thu, Feb 9, 2012 9:50 am
Subject: RE: [pestlist] pests in HVAC filters
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Hi Derya,
Like Patty I am a little daunted at the prospect of checking all of our filters
(big complicated building). At a previous institution I worked we did check
the bottom of the outside air intakes – this only showed what was being drawn
into the stack (and building). We discussed putting screens on the intakes, but
I am not sure that happened. It might have constricted the air flow – the
discussion took place 10 years ago, so I am a little vague on the results. If
your filters are in place and your HVAC is in good shape (no unanticipated
holes in the ducts) the filters should be blocking egress. If the filters are
changed on a schedule then there should be little organic matter to become the
source of an infestation.
Our main problem is with electrical and plumbing traces. This is an old
building, with a lot of unidentified conduits to be used as insect and rodent
highways throughout. There are also plenty of holes in the building. Using a
proactive pest management company has made a significant difference in our
insect levels. One of the things that the technician does is identify hotspots
and breeding grounds such as standing water at the bottom of elevator shafts or
in the attics. By addressing these issues and keeping in close contact with
our Facilities staff on the repairs to the building has made a huge difference
in reduction of pests and in understanding why the pests are present.
I sent this discussion to our entomologist and will post his reply.
Gretchen Anderson
Conservator
Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh
From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of
Silence, Patricia
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 8:58 AM
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Subject: RE: [pestlist] pests in HVAC filters
Hi Derya,
We have been advised to do this, and find it a bit daunting, as well. The
compelling particulars included finding adult powder-post type critters, who
fly away as they emerge . Given a large collection of architectural fragments
inspection is nearly impossible to find new-looking holes. We are skeptical
that the adults would come across a stumble trap. I don’t think Ryan has found
a lot of time to do this and our filter-changing schedule covers dozens of
sites – and is managed by a team that doesn’t have a simple or direct way of
telling us that dirty filters are ready to look at and then get hauled to the
dumpster – clearly we don’t have a place to leave them sitting around.
I would love to get an entomologist’s thoughts on this.
Patty
From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of derya
gölpinar
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:56 PM
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Subject: [pestlist] pests in HVAC filters
This is a message from the Museumpests List.
To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net
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Hi Everybody, I was wondering if any of you check your HVAC filters for pests.
The idea has come up - when our pest control vendor mentioned that insects can
travel through HVAC systems and get from one part of the museum to another.
Does checking the filters give us a random sample of what might be around the
museum? Or is it overkill to look at these? Have any of you actually done this?
Our facilities staff gave me a used filter to look at today and it is pretty
large, I couldn't really think of a practical way to check them for insects
without having it take up a lot of my time.
best,
Derya
Assistant Registrar
Rubin Museum of Art
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