Detection of insect infestation in museum objects by carbon dioxide measurement using FTIR

Detecting the presence of active insects in various stages of their lifecycle within an art object is often difficult in the absence of direct visualization of the insect. It usually relies on oneʹs ability to assess the evidence of their activity around, on, or in the object. To augment this “eyeball” method, a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy system was used to determine the presence of the insect through its respired gas, carbon dioxide. The application of the procedure to assist in control of insect infestation within art objects is described. Two instruments are discussed in this paper. The prototype instrument could detect a change in carbon dioxide that was 0.3–0.4 ppm/h and required days to reliably determine this level. The second instrument could detect changes as low as 0.09 ppm/h and could provide results in only 4 h. Carbon dioxide measurements were collected from representative insect groups that have caused problems in art objects; these were worker termites (Reticulitermes sp.), carpet beetle adult and larvae (Anthrenus sp.), an odd beetle larva (Thylodrias sp.) and a mature silverfish (Lepisma sp.), as well as selected museum art objects composed of wood, fabric, and/or feathers suspected of harboring insects.