[Nhcoll-l] Pest extermination with really big objects

Mon Sep 8 10:00:31 EDT 2025

Hi Adrian,

Anoxia is a great option but it takes time, so I would be mindful about
that (I'd say 2-3 weeks per bubble). It is a great option for other
materials that are at risk in a freezer, so it's always nice to keep in
mind.

If you are still looking into freezing, I would look into freezer trucks,
where you will be able to put multiple large bones at the same time. Some
truck beds are huge!

Best of luck,
Mariana

Mariana Di Giacomo, PhD
Natural History Conservator, Yale Peabody Museum
Associate Editor, Collection Forum, SPNHC

On Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 09:55 Tocci, Genevieve E. <glewis-g at oeb.harvard.edu>
wrote:

> Dear Adrian,
>
> In addition to anoxia, sometimes people can rent walk in freezers.
> Humidity can be an issue with some of them, but if you can wrap your
> materials it should be ok.
>
> I also encourage you to reach out to the MuseumPests.net PestList as there
> are many professionals there who may have additional solutions or may be
> more local and can offer direct assistance.
> https://museumpests.net/join-the-pestlist/
>
> Best of luck,
> Genevieve
>
> =================================================
> Genevieve E. Tocci, ALM (she/her/hers)
> Senior Curatorial Technician
> Harvard University Herbaria
> 22 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/22+Divinity+Ave.,+Cambridge,+MA+02138+U.S.A.?entry=gmail&source=g>
> U.S.A.
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/22+Divinity+Ave.,+Cambridge,+MA+02138+U.S.A.?entry=gmail&source=g>
> glewis-g at oeb.harvard.edu
>
>
>
> *I don’t expect you to respond to my email outside your work hours.*
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Fabian
> Neisskenwirth <info at naturhistorische-konservierung.de>
> *Sent:* Monday, September 8, 2025 8:44 AM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Pest extermination with really big objects
>
>
> Dear Adrian,
>
> did you check with some other museum in your location if they have a
> nitrogen chamber?
>
> You might try to reach out with some other conservators from cultural
> heritage. This method is very common for treating large object like
> furniture.
>
> Here is a German company that offers a lot of great services and might
> know some contact in Sweden:
> https://llfa.eu/conservation/pest-management.html
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__llfa.eu_conservation_pest-2Dmanagement.html&d=DwMDaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=EYdhJ0HrhAMcA2aVQ-I4N7lml00zxsXPbHYeP7843No&m=T435cjMVWojGgnKXDCd1KDyTt9i3lRe8925Yl3_QfC3myWFrqWIGcBpAhBrjiZ8A&s=6DHngyGeCR_-Yeg8p4lH1CAxRGHH5GafB1YoHik4yhI&e=>
>
>
> All the best!
> Am 08.09.25 um 14:21 schrieb Adrian Lenninger:
>
> Hello!
>
> We at the Swedish Museum of Natural History are moving material, mostly
> bones and mounted mammals, from one external storage facility to another.
> The facility that we are evacuating is riddled with pests, mainly the
> dermestid Trogoderma angustum, so everything has to undergo some sort of
> pest managing procedure before installation at the new place.
>
> Unfortunately, a few bone objects are too big to fit in available freezing
> containers or our own walk-in freezers, and we are struggling to find a way
> to kill of pests that are sure to reside in the objects. The biggest object
> is a sperm whale skull measuring 275 * 590 cm at the base with a height of
> 215 cm.
>
> We have tried to find businesses that might dispose of huge freezers
> without any luck, and we have failed to find clever ways of tilting the
> objects in to the freezing containers.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas here? All thoughts are welcome as we really
> don´t know what to do at this point. If you have worked with fumigation, we
> are interested in what compounds where used and if you were happy with the
> results.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Adrian Lenninger
>
>
>
>
>
> *Adrian Lenninger*
>
> Förste assistent
> ZOO
> Naturhistoriska riksmuseet
> Box 50007 | 104 05 Stockholm
>
>
>
>
>
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