INFS 423 Preservation of Information Resources Lecture 7 – Deterioration Caused by Insects Lecturer: Prof. Harry Akussah & Mr. Michael Allotey , Contact Information: mallotey@ug.edu.gh, hakussah@ug.edu.gh School of Information and Communication Studies Department of Information Studies 2018/2019
Lecture Overview In the previous lecture, we learnt how fungi thrive and damage information resources and how we can contain them. In this lecture, I will be introducing you to the various types of insects that can cause damage to our materials. You will be taken through how to control their activities and how to prevent their infestation. Slide 2
Lecture Outline The key topics to be covered in this lecture are as follows: • Topic One: Economic Importance of insects • Topic Two: Categories of Insects • Topic Three: Conducive Environment for Propagation • Topic Four: Damages Caused by Insects • Topic Five: Extermination of Insects Slide 3
Reading List • Akussah, H. (2011). Preservation of Documents. Department of Information Studies, Legon, NAB Superior Services. • Gorman, G. E., & Shep, S. J. (2006). Preservation management for libraries, archives and museums. London: Facet Pub. • Adcock, E.P. (2000). Principles for the care of handling of Library Materials. Washington, D.C., IFAPAC. • Swartburg , S. G. (1983). “Conservation Library.” A Handbook of use and care of traditional materials. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1983. • Feather, J. (2004). Managing preservation for libraries and archives: current practice and future developments. Aldershot, Hants, England, Ashgate Publishing. Slide 4
Topic One ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF INSECTS Slide 5
Economic Importance of Insects 1. Financial Implications • Insects can cause partial damage to documents – cost of repair • Insects can cause total loss of documents – cost of replacement 2.Health Hazards – Custodians visiting hospitals – Hospital Bills – Loss of Man-Hours 3.Psychological Revulsion – Loss of Clients/Patrons Slide 6
Common Insects That Affect Documents: • Silver Fish • Cockroaches • Book • Termites worms/Beetles • Mud wasps • Book lice Slide 7
Silverfish • Silverfishes feed on mold and starchy materials that are found on paper documents. • Silverfishes are small grey insects (approximately 12mm in length). They have a scaly appearance and are generally found in dark, cool and moist environments such as basements. • Evidence of silverfish damage is visible as an abraded, rough surface on paper materials. Slide 8
Book Lice • This is generally found in heated buildings. It feeds on mold spores that are found on paper and cardboard. • Direct feeding by this insect does not cause visible damage to paper; however, its squashed body can cause staining. • Book louse prefers high humidity levels above 60% and they reproduce at warm temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius. Slide 9
Book Worm/ Beetles • This is actually the larva of any of 160 different species of beetle. • Eggs are laid on the edges of books and when the larvae hatch they burrow into the books, eating their way through the leaves, leaving little tunnels. • It feeds on anything that is cellulosic in content. When it matures into a beetle, it stays on the cover of a book to feed since it can no longer penetrate books. Slide 10
Termites These are also known as white ants. They are the most dangerous of all the insects and very difficult to dislodge. There are two types of termites: • wood dwelling termites and • Earth dwelling termites. Slide 11
Wood Dwelling Termites • Wood dwelling termites are all over the place always looking for organic materials. They feed rapidly and can cause great havoc within a week or less. • They hate light even though they are not nocturnal. Most times, it is difficult to detect because they hide under wood and any sign is hardly seen, therefore vigilance is required. • To destroy them, their hiding place should be ruffled. They should be exposed to light in order to kill them. Glue traps can also be used to trap them. The only permanent method however is termite-proofing. Slide 12
Earth Dwelling Termites • Earth dwelling termites normally live in nests called ant hill. They enter the storage areas through cracks in the foundation, walls or ceiling. • They travel long distances in search of food or organic matter to feed on. Once they get a source of food, it becomes their source of attraction. They go in, take food and go back. They move along sewage lines and their presence can easily be detected by tunnels on walls or floors of the storage area. • To destroy them, the nests from which they come must be identified, destroyed and fumigants placed in them. DDT can be used to spray inside the nests. This is very effective because when some of the termites die, others feed on them and they also die. Termites can also be exterminated by digging round the building as deep as 2 feet and disinfesting the trench round. The trench is filled with insecticides. Slide 13
Topic Two CATEGORIZATION OF INSECTS Slide 14
Categorization of Organisms • Habitual/Permanent Visitors – They live permanently in the storage area or on the premises. They are born on books, feed and die on books. Example: silver fish, booklice, bookworm. • Occasional/Casual Visitors – only visit the storage area looking for food. Once accomplish their aim and go back. Example: termites, cockroaches and mud wasps. Slide 15
Topic Three CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR PROPAGATION Slide 16
Conducive Environment for Propagation • Insects are attracted to nutrients found in paper documents, particularly cellulose, adhesive and starch. • They also thrive under some favorable conditions: damp, dark, warm and dirty locations. • When the temperature is above 21 degrees Celsius and relative humidity is above 65%, a conducive environment is created for insects. • Long periods of darkness, undisturbed environment and areas of minimal use and inspection encourage insect infestation. Slide 17
How Insects Enter the Storage Environment There are several ways through which insects enter the storage area. Among these are: • Flying into the storage area through doors, windows, etc. • Through new acquisitions or accessions and returned borrowed documents. • Through cracks and along sewage lines in the storage area. Slide 18
How Insects Enter the Storage Environment • Through new and donated furniture. • Through archival and pamphlet boxes. • Through poor housekeeping practices. Slide 19
Indications of their Presence • Surface erosions of irregular shapes • Pile of fine powder on shelves/book cover • Small round holes on spine or cover of books • Tiny black/brown droppings • Scratches on spine of books • Tiny bites/nibbles at edges of documents • Occasionally, broken wings left behind • Mud tunnels on walls, shelves, furniture, etc. • Mud nests at corner of shelves, furniture and at times books. Slide 20
Activity 1 • Undertake another study tour of a public archives or library. Conduct an internal and external survey to identify probable means by which insects can enter the center. Write down five (5) of them. Slide 21
Topic Four DAMAGES CAUSED BY INSECTS Slide 22
Damages Caused by Insects Insects are usually active at night when people are not present, and the damage they cause is irreversible: • They can cause partial or total destruction. Example is termites. • They can cause permanent stains to documents. • They can deface documents by scratching. • Structural damage can result if a maze of holes or perforations left in sheets of paper or through bindings. Slide 23
Topic Five PROTECTION AGAINST INSECTS Slide 24
Prevention Insect Infestation A number of measures can be taken: • Food and drink should be prohibited in the storage and reading areas. Temperature and relative humidity should be controlled. • Building must be insect proof. Screens should be placed on windows and exterior doors and, where possible, all cracks along floors and walls and holes around pipes plugged to limit the entrance of insects from outside. Slide 25
Protection Against Insects • All new materials should be inspected and fumigated before they are brought into the building. • All vegetation around the storage area should be removed or kept trimmed . Ideally, there should be no live plants or flowers in the storage areas as plants can easily habour insects, which can propagate in the storage area and lead to infestations. • Insect traps can be used to catch flying insects. • It is essential that storage areas be cleaned on a regular basis particularly behind shelves and in dark areas. Slide 26
Activity 2 Go back to the information centre you visited during activity 1. Conduct a mini interview with the head of the centre to find out how they protect their documents against insect damage. Slide 27
Topic Five EXTERMINATION OF INSECTS Slide 28
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