Using parasitoid wasps in Integrated Pest Management in museums against biscuit beetle (Stegobium paniceum) and webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella)

Abstract

-Biscuit beetle (Stegobium paniceum) and webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) cause much damage to museum objects. Some objects and materials are very attractive to these two pest species and objects are often re-infested after treatment. For some years parasitoid wasps have been used in biological pest control to treat and reduce infestations of stored product pests in food processing facilities. Their application in museums is still new and in a research stage. Results from five different museums in Germany and Austria and their application are presented. Lariophagus distinguendus wasps were released against Stegobium paniceum in the municipal library Augsburger Stadtarchiv (Germany), the Ethnological Museum in Berlin (Germany) and the Picture Gallery in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (Austria). Trichogramma evanescens were released against Tineola bisselliella in the Technisches Museum in Vienna (Austria) and in the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum in Munich (Germany). Results show that for active biscuit beetle infestations good results can be expected using the Lariophagus distinguendus in museums. Active clothes moth infestations are harder to treat but with a very regular and long-term exposure to the wasps, the clothes moth population can be reduced over the years. We see the application of parasitoid wasps as part of an Integrated Pest Management concept that should be used besides regular insect monitoring and other preventive measures. Difficulties, limitations and research needs in the application of parasitoid wasps in museums are discussed.

Electrophysiological and behavioural responses ofStegobium paniceumto volatile compounds from Chinese medicinal plant materials

“…Two parasitic wasps, Lariophagus distinguendus Forster and Theocolax elegans Westwood, which are natural enemies of S. paniceum, are attracted to volatiles of stored cereal grains which represent the preferred substrates of their hosts. 16,22,50 Therefore volatile compounds identified from CMPMs that could be attractive to both S. paniceum and S. paniceum parasitoids deserve further research. This information could provide a theoretical framework for establishing a biocontrol system, based on CMPM volatiles, in which parasitoids are used to control S. paniceum infesting CMPMs.…”

“…This study confirmed that semiochemical volatiles participate directly in the interactions between S. paniceum and host CMPMs. Two parasitic wasps, Lariophagus distinguendus Forster and Theocolax elegans Westwood, which are natural enemies of S. paniceum , are attracted to volatiles of stored cereal grains which represent the preferred substrates of their hosts 16,22,50 . Therefore volatile compounds identified from CMPMs that could be attractive to both S. paniceum and S. paniceum parasitoids deserve further research.…”

Insect Pests and Integrated Pest Management in Museums, Libraries and Historic Buildings

“…Low oxygen atmosphere is achieved using Nitrogen, Argon or anoxia treatments with oxygen scavengers in small bags. Still quite new and under development is the biological method application using parasitoid wasps, for example, against biscuit beetles, webbing clothes moths, or furniture beetles [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. First, results show that it is working if the location of the infestation is known and parasitoid wasps are commercially available (this is not the case for all pests, but just a small selection).…”

Linking webbing clothes moths to infested objects or other food sources in museums

“…IPM in museums uses different chemical-free options to treat infestation, such as freezing (Florian, 1990;Strang, 1997), controlled heat treatment (Strang, 1992;Pinniger, 2003), anoxia (Gilberg, 1989(Gilberg, , 1991Maekawa & Elert, 2003), parasitoid release (Querner & Biebl, 2011), or insect growth regulators (Gilberg & Roach, 1997) (see also Querner and Kjerulff (2013) for an overview of treatment methods used in museums). But we clearly show that the often discussed 'housekeeping' or 'deep clean' is an important part of preventive conservation, to reduce moth activity in museums and stores.…”