Moulds and insects affecting libraries and archives, ecological and applied issues:the use of entomopathogenic fungi to control library infestations

Abstract: The use of entomopathogenic fungi to control pest infestation in libraries and archivesto our knowledge has never been considered, until now. The problems that can occur in aneventual application of fungal commercial formulates against museum and library pests regardthe efficacy on one side, and the possible activity against materials, or humans. In this paper, anexperimental study on the possibility of utilising some entomopathogenic fungi in libraries andarchives to control pests’ populations is presented. Data on the metabolic profile, paper spoilingattitudes and pathogenicity to some pests of a strain of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin(Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) are presented. The metabolic profiling has been performedwith a BiologTM phenotype microarray method for filamentous fungi (FFR-plates).