Insects and other invaders can wreak havoc in museum storerooms. In order to protect the objects, the Landesmuseum Heidecksburg relies on a chamber with special abilities.
Rudolstadt (dpa/th) – Moths in the carpet, woodworms in picture frames and furniture: In order to rid collection objects of pests, the Landesmuseum Heidecksburg was the first institution in Thuringia to put a moisture-regulating thermal chamber into operation. The first test runs are in progress, said Lars Krausse, who is responsible for the depots of the State Museum.
The chamber, measuring four by three meters, was set up in the museum’s new outdoor depot in an industrial building in Bad Blankenburg. According to Krausse, the climatic conditions in the former horse stables of Heidecksburg Castle, which had previously been used as a storeroom, were unfavorable for the objects.
To prevent moths, woodworms or other pests from moving into the new depot, he wants to treat many items in the thermal chamber beforehand. That’s 800 to 900 items from the Marstall alone. Other objects from the Thuringian State Museum are to follow, said Krausse. The chamber is also available for collection items from other Thuringian museums.
Textiles, paper, picture frames, books, furniture – a wide variety of materials can be treated, explained Krauss. The procedure, during which the temperature in the chamber is slowly increased to up to 52 degrees and then just as slowly decreased again, lasts up to 24 hours. Even heavy pieces of furniture are heated in this way down to the smallest crack. The heat not only affects insects, but also the larvae that live in the core of the wood, Krausse explained.
To prevent a major infestation of pests in the first place, facilities should ideally take preventive measures, said museum consultant Juana Künne from the Thuringian Museum Association. Special adhesive or light traps could, for example, provide early indications of an infestation. It is also important to check the house for unwanted openings, such as old ventilation pipes or leaky doors. A mouse, for example, can already fit through a thumb-width slit. Museums should also use trash cans with lids to avoid unintentionally stocking food sources.
Depot manager Krauße knows from his own experience that in old walls with leaking windows it can be difficult to close all the gateways for insects. Living insects kept getting lost in the boxes with butterflies and beetles from the natural history collection. In contrast to other methods of pest control – for example with nitrogen – the thermal chamber now offers a simple and gentle method, said Krausse. Since the humidity is constantly adjusted during the process, no damage such as stress cracks occurs.
From the point of view of the museum association, the thermal chamber, which was set up with funding from the Thuringian State Chancellery, is a benefit for all museums in the state. Very few houses would have the financial and spatial opportunity to purchase something comparable, it said. Since the thermal chambers in the Heidecksburg are constantly looked after, everyone could benefit from the experience gained here.
