Moths

Moths will attack ivory and bone and the larvae will make small “pinholes” when they hatch. But don’t use the out-of-date tip that says you should put ivory in the freezer to kill moths.

According to the Ivory Education Institute, about 10 to 15 percent of the weight of ivory is water. The water collects in tiny pores in the ivory. When frozen, it expands and can cause internal cracking and deterioration of the object.