Hi Wendi, It looks very similar to cases left behind by Webbing Clothes Moths or Case Making Clothes Moths. Regardless of activity level, you should double bag the objects and freeze them (we do -40 C for a minimum of 48 hours) to kill any eggs, larva or adults that may be hiding. Afterward, clean it thoroughly and re-assess.
You'll also want to do a thorough check in the surrounding areas/collections if these were stored nearby. -Alex On Friday, March 24, 2023 at 3:18:58 PM UTC-4 wmurray01 wrote: Hello all, Can anyone tell me what I am seeing on this hide/fur object from Namibia? There does not appear to be any live pest activity (I believe it made its way to Connecticut in the 1970s and has been in this box ever since) but the fur is completely gone where there is evidence of the most debris, and feeding holes are present in the hide itself. We are hoping to rehab this object, but need an id on this detritus/pest first. No idea if these pests originated in southern Africa or New England. Thanks! Wendi *WENDI FIELD MURRAY, PHD* COLLECTIONS MANAGER/REPATRIATION COORDINATOR, Archaeology & Anthropology Collection COLLECTIONS MANAGER, East Asian Art & Archival Collection Wesleyan University | Olin Library Exley Science Center, 301 | Middletown, CT 06459 P. 860 685-2085 pronouns: she/her/hers -- 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/3a939479-7be5-496b-bcea-a02614510a19n%40googlegroups.com.