This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hi pest listers
I am no expert on Peruvian culture so if these suggestions are not acceptable then my apologies. I am a bit confused by the email as to which insects are being identified. The comments from the intern suggest they have not found any insects. However from the background information it seems it is only a matter of time. Having looked up the weather in the area , warm , humid, equatorial, it would seem that insects are inevitable. If there is a quick fix, freezing, heating, chemicals then it is only a matter of time before the insects return. Why see this as a problem rather than a community involvement opportunity. This is a 'valuable' and loved piece and also it was someone from the community. Engage the community in looking out for insects and other potential problems. The case looks homemade (rough edges to the glass) but also pretty well sealed. If it is acceptable have a program of opening the case, investigating the mummy, corn, cloth and everything else. It is also an opportunity for a bit of TLC and even a chat to the mummy. Any evidence of insects found can be identified from the training, poster, local knowledge or even an email to the pest list. Homemade sticky traps can be made, corn can be changed, cloth cleaned and aired etc. Don't remove the old chap from view, it's his / her home now. This hopefully will lead to a greater understanding of the museum and the sealing of holes, general repair etc will follow. Hope this helps or just stirs up discussion. John From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Watts, Angela B Sent: Friday, 8 June 2012 4:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [pestlist] Pest help in Peruvian museum This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hello pestlist, I am posting this query on behalf of one of my museum's interns who is currently doing fieldwork in a somewhat remote region of the Peruvian Amazon. He is doing joint degrees in Museum Studies and Anthropology, so he was asked by the regional museum at a local university to help advise them on how to care for their collection. I do not currently have all of the details of what resources are available to the museum and he is working to get the insects identified by a local expert, so I'm not sure what kind of pests he's dealing with just yet. Here is the information that I received from him: "I have spent the last two days looking over the collections and it is apparent that there is a massive insect infestation. There is no short-term solution from stopping the insects from entering the building. The museum entrance is always open, there are large exterior openings in the walls, open water grates, and holes in the walls and ceilings from former electrical fixtures. Our major concern is keeping insects out of the case displaying the mummy. This case has only been out for about a year and I did not see evidence of infestation. It is the most valuable piece in the museum in terms of cultural, scientific, and monetary value. Read http://www.news.ku.edu/2012/may/30/peruvian.shtml for more information about the mummy. I've attached an image of the case for reference. This being said, I could really use some advice about how to protect this object from becoming infested (even if that means removing it from the exhibition space into a more controlled environment)." I imagine that the museum would prefer if the mummy could stay on exhibit since it is one of the most important features of the museum. Does anyone have any advice on perhaps how the case could be sealed to protect from insects while ensuring that it does not create a harmful microclimate? As you can see from the photo, the mummy is currently displayed with offering examples like corn and other items. I don't know if he may have access to a freezer that could be used to treat these exhibit props, and perhaps they would just need to be removed altogether. From what I gather from him, the availability of funds and local museum collections expertise are severely limited. Thanks for any feedback that you may have. Angela Watts Associate Collection Manager Spencer Museum of Art The University of Kansas (785) 864-4979 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe from this list send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this list send an email to [email protected] and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to [email protected] with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email [email protected] or [email protected]
