Ants Spotted in National Palace Museum Display Case; Museum Initiates Protective Measures

(CNA, Taipei, May 21, by reporter Wang Bao-er) A member of the public released a video on a social media platform last night, recording traces of ant activity in a display case at the National Palace Museum (NPM). The NPM stated today that it conducted inspections and took action immediately according to standard museum operating procedures, and no damage to the artifacts has been found so far. Last night, a person posted a video on Threads capturing ants moving inside a display case at the National Palace Museum. The post stated, "I reported it to the staff on the spot, and heard it had already happened yesterday," and also tagged the museum's official account, drawing public attention. The NPM issued a press release today in response, stating that regarding the recent discovery of ant activity by the public in the exhibition hall, the museum conducted inspections and took action immediately according to standard museum operating procedures. The current assessment is that the ant activity is mainly located behind the display case, and it is not a case of pest infestation on the artifact itself. The NPM emphasized that after discovering the ant activity, it immediately initiated relevant protective measures. Firstly, after a comprehensive inspection of the exhibition hall, it was confirmed that the current ant activity is limited to a specific display case area. After careful evaluation, the artifact in that display case has been preemptively removed to ensure its safety and to facilitate subsequent pest control operations and hardware inspection. The museum stated that it is currently confirming the ants' movement path and source. In addition to continuously monitoring the situation on-site, it has also strengthened the sealing of the display case joints and surrounding areas to reduce the chance of insects entering. Furthermore, the NPM is applying bait for control in accessible locations. The museum explained that since ants are social insects, directly spraying insecticide might cause the colony to scatter. Therefore, using bait is currently a more effective method to gradually control the population. The NPM said that the ants discovered this time belong to the Camponotus genus, which is common in Taiwan. These ants mainly feed on nectar or plant sugars, and also consume small insects. They typically live in outdoor tree holes, dead wood, or humid environments, and may also enter walls, beams, or interstitial spaces through building cracks. The museum stated that due to the recent breeding season, winged individuals appear and are easily attracted to light, making their activity more prominent than usual. According to current data and experience, this type of ant has no record of directly harming cultural relics in the country, and no damage to artifacts has been found at present. The NPM explained that the focus of museum conservation work is on continuous monitoring and immediate handling of risks. The ability to promptly discover and handle this incident also shows that the daily monitoring mechanism is functioning. The museum will continue to track and improve the situation to ensure the safety of the exhibition hall and artifacts. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150521