Laboratory cultures of a number of common museum pests including <i>Tineola bisselliella</i> (Hummel), <i>Lasioderma serricorne</i> (Fabricus), <i>Stegobium paniceum </i> (Linnaeus) and <i>Anthrenus vorax</i> (Linnaeus), were exposed to low oxygen atmospheres (0.4% oxygen, balance nitrogen) at 30°C for three weeks. Complete mortality was observed for all developmental stages. The possible application of low oxygen atmospheres as an alternative to conventional chemical fumigation techniques is discussed in terms of these experimental trials.