Conservation in Action: Hungry Bugs & Beasties

One of the biggest threats to our historic objects is the active presence of certain insects. Organic materials such as wool, paper, silk and wood are plentiful at Sizergh and make the perfect home for pests such as webbing clothes moths and furniture beetle (woodworm). Left unchecked, so many beautiful and important items would quite literally turn to dust. Four times a year the collections team do an insect pest ‘headcount’ of what we catch in our sticky traps, which help us to know where we might have infestations, and what we can do to prevent further damage.