Hi again, folks, I hope you're all well and are successfully fighting the good fight against webbing clothes moths. If your institution has been doing battle with this pest species, please reach out!
You may remember my first email sent several months ago, but if not, here is a refresher: I am a PhD student looking into the biogeographic origins of the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella). I am interested in wcm from all over the world, but am most in need of samples from Asia, Australia, and Africa. If you (or someone you know) are from any of these continents and are dealing with wcm, please get in touch with me, it would be greatly appreciated!! Coming from a museum background, I understand the challenges and frustrations involved with the management of this pest. Unfortunately, our current knowledge of this moth family is scant, despite the enormous threat it poses to tangible cultural heritage. Because of this, I staunchly believe that we need a more comprehensive understanding of this moth's natural history. In order to work towards effective management of this widespread, yet little-known, pest species, I intend to explore the molecular phylogeny, population structure, and sexual communication of WCM from around the globe. If your institution struggles with unwelcome moth visitors and is interested in working towards a solution with me, please send an email to inov...@bu.edu. I look forward to hearing from you and helping to improve collections management practices together. Lastly, I want to make clear that I understand the implications for world-class institutions struggling with pest infestations. I know that this problem can be embarrassing and stressful, but it in no way means that your museum has neglected your collection. On the contrary, if you have noticed moth presence in your collections spaces, your collections management practices are obviously more than adequate-- it is clear that you're paying close attention to your artifacts if you are noticing tiny moths. Ultimately, if you choose to work with me and contribute samples to my project, I will keep your contributions confidential unless otherwise specified. I don't want any concerns about perception of quality of collections management standing in the way of science, as I know that this concern is valid. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and hopefully participation! All the best, Isabel Novick -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pestlist+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/MN2PR03MB53593FEA8451645F120B3610C8159%40MN2PR03MB5359.namprd03.prod.outlook.com.
