PEST INFESTATION

AND CONTROL
BUILDING WIDE-CONCERN
 PEST CONCERN
Commitment to preserve the collections for continued future use by
mankind

Economic losses are created not only by the direct replacement

costs of books and materials, but also by expenditures required to
salvage, conserve, and restore the materials damaged.

Mice, cockroaches, and other insects generate fear and anxiety in

the minds of many individuals. People simply do not want to work in
or visit an infested facility.

Some pests present a threat only to the library collections; others,

however, may be of significance to the public health. Rodent and
cockroach infestations are of particular concern to such agencies
because of their potential for disease transmission to people.
 In the Past
In the past, insect sightings often occasioned an indiscriminate
use of pesticides.

Fumigants are among the most toxic of pesticides; other

pesticides are usually suspended in a liquid and sprayed, so that
they tend to settle out of the air. Fumigant gases remain in the air
and can easily spread over a wide area. Ethylene oxide (ETO), a
gaseous fumigant, was commonly used in libraries and archives
until the 1980s.

ETO is effective against insect adults, larvae, and eggs. ETO

should be used only as a last resort; materials should be sent to a
commercial facility and allowed to off-gas for at least several
weeks before being returned to the library or archives.
 Chemical Methods
attractants (which lure insects into traps, sometimes killing them)

baits and pellets (which are eaten by the insects)

contact and residual sprays (normally sprayed into cracks and crevices;
these kill on contact and/or by absorption of the pesticide when the insect
walks through the residue)

dusts (which dehydrate insects or interfere with internal water regulation)

fogging concentrates (these use equipment that suspends a pesticide

and oil formulation in the air)

strips (the insect absorbs pesticide by walking across residual pest strips)

Repellents (these are meant to discourage rather than kill insects)

Non-Chemical Methods

A variety of non-chemical processes for

exterminating insects have been explored. The
most promising are controlled freezing and the use
of modified atmospheres. Methods that have not
proved as successful include the use of heat,
gamma radiation, and microwaves.
 Heat
Heat can effectively exterminate insects; it has
been used widely in food processing and
medicine. A temperature of 50C for at least one
hour will kill most insects. Heat should not be used
to eliminate insects from paper collections,
however, because heat at the levels needed to kill
insects greatly accelerates oxidation and paper
aging; materials can become brittle and otherwise
damaged.
 Freezing
Freezing is attractive because it involves no chemicals and
thus poses no hazard to library staff. It can be used on
most library materials and does not appear to damage
collections (according to existing literature on experimental
efforts), but research into this question is not yet complete.
Very fragile objects, those made from a combination of
materials, and artefacts with friable media should probably
not be frozen; a conservator should always be consulted
before any method is chosen.

Like chemical treatments, freezing provides no residual

benefits. If collections are not returned to a well maintained
storage area, reinfestation will almost certainly occur.
 Modified Atmospheres
Modified atmospheres show great promise, but
additional research is needed to determine
optimum exposure times and methods for
particular types of insects. There appears to be no
obvious damage to collections, but little research
has been done on long-term effects. There is
potential danger to staff from exposure to high
levels of carbon dioxide, if that is used, but there
are no residual effects on collections.
 Habitats

Insect species require specific ranges of

temperature, relative humidity, and other conditions
in order to flourish. The first condition for their
presence is the existence of openings in the
building envelope through which they can enter.
Once insects have entered a building, they seek
out moisture, food sources, and undisturbed
spaces for breeding.
 Routes of Entry
Inadequately sealed windows and doors, or windows and doors that
are left open routinely, can provide an entry point for insects.

Cracks and crevices in walls or foundations or openings around

pipes can also be an entry route. Insects can squeeze through
extremely small openings.

Vents and air ducts can provide an entry point for birds, rodents,
and insects.

Plantings close to a building provide an excellent habitat for insects,

which may then migrate into the building through various openings.

Insects also can be brought into the building in books and papers
themselves.
 Climate

Optimum temperature for many insects is between

20-30F. Most insects will die if exposed to
temperatures below -2C or above 45C for a
period of time. Optimum humidity levels for their
proliferation are generally between 60%-80%. 1

Insects need moisture to survive, and some (such

as psocids and silverfish) thrive on high humidity.
 Water Sources

Many insects are attracted to damp areas. Sources

of water and potential insect habitats include water
pipes running through collections, restrooms,
kitchens, water fountains, custodial closets, and
climate-control equipment. Standing water on a
roof or in other locations can raise humidity levels
and provide an excellent environment for insects.
 Food Sources

Food waste in kitchens and offices provides

sustenance for insects, particularly if it remains in a
building and uncovered for long periods of time.
Potted plants and cut flowers, water in vases and
over-watered plants, dead and dying plants, and
the nectar and pollen of flowering plants all
encourage the presence of insects.
 Storage Conditions
Some insect species that threaten collections thrive in small,
dark, undisturbed spaces, in other words, in conditions that are
common to storage areas.

Insects will set up housekeeping inside dark, tight spaces (such

as corrugated boxes), and are attracted to piles of boxes or
other materials that are left undisturbed for long periods.

Insects also live in quiet spaces like corners, the undersides of

bookcases, and behind furniture. Dust and dirt help to provide a
hospitable atmosphere for pests. Dead insects or insect debris
can attract other insects. Dirt and clutter also make it difficult to
see pests, so a problem may go unnoticed for some time.
 Cockroaches

Cockroaches are fond of small crevices and

spaces between walls. They especially like starchy
materials and protein and will eat book pages,
bindings adhesives, leather and even wallpaper.
Cockroaches will not only chew holes in papers
and bindings but can also badly stain materials
with their secretions.
 Silverfish

This prefers dark, moist, and moderate to warm

conditions. Silverfish tend to graze on the surface
of paper and seem to prefer coated paper. Paper
that is slightly ragged and thinning at the edges is
usually the work of silverfish. Silverfish are
ubiquitous, and their small flat shape makes it easy
for them to be concealed in cardboard boxes and
other items brought into a library.
 Beetles
The beetle's larvae are one of the types popularly
known as bookworms, with eggs laid on the spine
of a book and along the edges. Immediately upon
hatching, the larvae tunnel under the binding cover,
especially down the spine area. The insect then
proceeds to tunnel up to 10 centimeters into the
paper text, where it pupates into an adult beetle.
The adult leaves a round exit hole, as well as
powdered paper on the shelf. One of this beetle's
favorite foods is dried flowers and spices; these
should not be brought into the library.
 Termites
By far the most damaging of all insects are termites,
abundant in tropical regions. The damage to all paper-
based materials can be catastrophic, in that entire
collections can be rendered useless by the severe nature
of the attack, often before an infestation problem has been
recognized.

Termites eat all cellulose materials, including wood, paper,

binding cloth, and binding board. Some protection from
termites can be given by the building design (use of metal
shielding over wooden foundations, painting any exposed
wood), but the best remedy is cleanliness, prevention of
moisture, and constant vigilance.
 Vermin
Rats and mice are the most common rodents
librarians are likely to encounter. Both rats and
mice use paper to make their nests, and many fine
books have lost chunks of text through their jagged
gnawing. Rodents' fecal matter and urine are
especially damaging. It is generally better to trap
rodents than to use a poison that will allow them to
crawl into building crevices and die, for rodent
carcasses are breeding grounds for insects that
also damage library and archival materials.
 Integrated Pest
Management
Pest control approaches favoured by conservators today
are passive, preventive and non-toxic. Ultimately
infestation is unlikely to occur if bookshelves and books
are kept clean, surrounding floors and carpets vacuumed
regularly and food and drink not allowed in the storage
areas. A cool, dry environment also helps to greatly reduce
the risk of insect damage.

Insecticides and mothballs should not be used as they are

not only ineffective against insect eggs but also dangerous
to human health and can have harmful effects on books
and paper. Instead Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
should be an integral part of the institute.
 Housekeeping
This approach encourages ongoing maintenance and housekeeping
and promotes the notion that if the preferred environment of a pest is
understood then steps can be taken to ensure that this environment
does not exist within your storage or display areas.

The main activities include building inspection and maintenance;

climate control; restriction of food and plants; regular cleaning; proper
storage

Clean storage areas routinely and thouroughly at least every 6 months

Look for stains and signs of insect grazing

Look for pile of dust, insect bodies, insect droppings, and other debris
and clean immediately
 Incoming Collections

A simple way for pests to be introduced into the

environment is through newly acquired books,
especially second-hand ones. An effective way to
prevent contamination of existing books is to
carefully check any newly acquired books for
insects or eggs before shelving and displaying
them.
 Pest Monitoring
A large part of IPM consists of trapping and monitoring
for the presences of insects on a continuous basis as
this will help detect problems in the early stages and
thus less intensive measure can be taken.

The aim of trapping and monitoring is to help make

decisions based on facts in regards to pest
management and what sort of problem there actually is
before planning a strategy to solve it rather than an
end game, and as such should not be so intensive or
extensive that it outstrips resources and staff.