Recently the museum’s Collection Care team discovered an

infestation of termites and beetles in some of the furnishings

in this room. Wood-eating insects, such as termites and beetles,

damage Vizcaya’s antique furniture and decorative objects.

A treatment process called anoxia is underway to eliminate the pests and stop further damage. The anoxia chamber, or bubble, is made of a plastic film. Oxygen within the chamber is slowly replaced with inert nitrogen gas supplied by the large green tanks.

Conditions inside the chamber are monitored by the museum’s Collection Care team. The insects die within two to three weeks as the relative humidity drops.

Anoxia is considered one of the most effective and safest methods of pest control for museum objects and artifacts. Please pardon our appearance during this time.

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A Closer Look:

Preservation Station

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