Christopher,

It has been a long time since I dealt with the beasties at Texas Tech, but
a few things still come to mind. I know for a fact that dermestids are
offended by being referred to as "nasty buggers", so watch out.

Dermestids are evolved to consume dead animal matter, and will do so with
gusto. I think they eat everything but bone. They are direct competitors
with fly maggots. If I remember correctly, it is the larva form that does
the eating. The beetle form does not eat anything, but is prone to
spreading eggs to new food sources. For all you curious grad students out
there, road kill is a sure source of fresh dermestids, if you are looking
to do any studies or tests.

A good IPM program is your best bet for preventing their entrance.
Biological specimens should be carefully checked before adding them to the
collection, with a suitable quarrantine time, just as with any other
materials. Traps help with the beetle form, and Timothy is right about the
freezing. After the bugs are dead, the object should be cleaned and the
dead critters removed if possible.

If you do find them in existing collections you would need to immediately
identify the source, quarrantine/treat it, and watch carefully for other
infestations. If the resources were there, you could treat all your
biological specimens to be safe. I do not remember chemicals being of much
use, as they are as toxic to you as to the bugs, in addition to being
generally bad for the objects.

And now, for lunch...


Mark Janzen
Registrar/Collections Manager
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Wichita State University
(316)978-5850


                                                                           
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                                       Nasty little buggers!  I mean       
                                       bugs... don't mean to offend!!!     
             03/11/2005 08:57                                              
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We've been discussing bats and bugs and so forth which really wigs me
out...
I'm a guy that can't stand bugs... bats no prob.. just mice with wings.

I'm actually a history major with a concentration in forensics and I've
worked too closely with dermestids than I've ever wanted.  My questions are
as follows:

             1)  What kind of collections do dermestids infest? I can
automatically assume they get into biological exhibits (stuffed aminals (as
my daughter says), but what else?

             2)  Are there preventative measures one could take to avoid
infestations?

             3)  How do you get rid of the voracious little creatures if
you do
find them amongst your stuff?

Please note, I do not have an infestation, so this is not a priority one
situation.  I'm a curious student.

             On that note, on behalf of all the students on the list (and
I'm
quite comfortable doing so), I would like to thank all the professionals
and
others employed in the field for taking time to help, guide, correct, and
listen to those of us striving to be where you are.  It gives us hope.

Christopher Reeves


---  As for the bats and squirrels... don't they make some sort of gadget
that clicks or beeps to ward off fuzzy neighbors?

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