Isabella Rossi did an article that talks about this for Piecework magazine (this is a general audience magazine but the author is a trained conservator). It was called "Moth Myths", it is the most recent issue. She cites one study and the book Chemical Principles of Textile Conservation. She notes there isn't a lot of research on the effectiveness of herbal IPM, but does point out that contact between the plant oils and textiles can cause damage, so the design of their use is very important, and that the plants probably lose their effectiveness pretty quickly (if it is there to begin with.) Climate control, decreasing potential pest access, consistent monitoring, and good housekeeping would probably make a bigger difference, but it sounds like this might be a more open air/living history type setting.
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Alyssa Opishinski
Graduate Student
University of Rhode Island
Kingston RI
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2023 05:47
From: Angela Barber
Subject: Using dried herbs as a pest deterrent
Hi. I am a student at Cardiff University in the UK and I am researching the use of dried herbs as a pest deterrent. Our national museum of folk history currently uses a mixture of lavender, tansy and wormwood as part of their IPM strategy to protect woollen blankets in 17th century thatched cottages. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has experience of using herbs as part of an IPM strategy- how were they used and the outcome- and especially from anyone who has done any field research in this area.
Thank you
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Angela Barber
Masters Student Msc Care of Collections
Cardiff University
Wales
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