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Insects Devour Museum Collections, Photographer Documents the Decay
🇳🇱 Netherlands /Culture & Society

Insects Devour Museum Collections, Photographer Documents the Decay

From NRC Handelsblad · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Museums face ongoing decay as insects like moths and beetles damage historical natural collections.
  • Photographer Klaus Pichler's series "The Second Death" documents this decay, working with biologist Pascal Querner.
  • Non-chemical pest control methods, such as climate control and cold treatments, are employed to preserve specimens.

Museums housing natural history collections are battling a persistent threat: the slow decay of their exhibits due to insect infestations. While taxidermied animals are prepared to resist natural decomposition, they are not immune to the ravages of pests like clothes moths and various beetles.

Stuffed animals in museums are prepared so that they remain good for a long time. The natural process of decay that sets in after an animal's death has been stopped by the preparator, so that the animals look as if they are still alive.

— Article contextExplaining the initial preservation of museum specimens.

Austrian photographer Klaus Pichler's photo series, "The Second Death," starkly illustrates this ongoing battle. Pichler collaborated with biologist Pascal Querner, an expert in combating insect plagues within museum collections. Querner prioritizes preventative measures and less toxic methods over widespread chemical treatments, concerned about the health risks to museum staff and visitors.

But they don't stay good forever, especially insect infestations can threaten the historical natural collections.

— Article contextIntroducing the threat of insect damage.

Querner's strategy involves maintaining optimal microclimates, using sticky traps, and employing cold treatments, including liquid nitrogen, to kill eggs and larvae within affected specimens. Books damaged by the common bookworm beetle are sealed in plastic to suffocate the pests. Pichler's dramatic photographs capture the surreal beauty of this decay, often placing damaged specimens against evocative backdrops, highlighting the fragility of these preserved natural wonders.

Querner does not want to use too many chemical pesticides due to their toxicity to conservators and visitors.

— Article contextDescribing the biologist's approach to pest control.

The North American wasp beetle (Reesa vespulae) is identified as a particularly destructive invasive species in Europe, capable of devastating insect collections and herbaria. Its ability to reproduce asexually means a single female can initiate a significant infestation, posing a serious eradication challenge.

The North American wasp beetle is notorious for its devastating effect on insect collections and herbaria.

— Article contextIdentifying a specific destructive invasive species.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by NRC Handelsblad in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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