Another suggestion I have heard for repelling/killing dermestids is
sprinkling diatomaceous earth on or around the specimen. I have not
experimented with this, but have heard about it from various sources that
insist that it works. It gets the specimen dusty however, so if it has nooks
and crannies that are deep, it may be hard to get this stuff out. One
benefit of using this is that it is safe as safe can be, it is effectively
chalk dust.
Hope this helps,
Brian
Brian L. Beatty
Interim Collection Manager
Snow Entomology Collection, KU Natural History Museum
1460 Jayhawk Blvd. - Snow Hall
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-7523 USA
[log in to unmask] * 785.864.3034
-----Original Message-----
From: Timothy McShane [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 11:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] bug casings.
Sounds like you're doing pretty good with what you've got to work with.
If you have any pieces that you are really concerned about, but can't
freeze, you can isolate it by wrapping it in white tissue paper, then
wrapping it in polyethylene sealed (along all edges) with packing tape,
and leaving it for a week or two. This won't halt insect activity, but
new frass and casings that will appear will confirm the existence of an
active infestation (of course, you'll have to carefully vacuum the piece
before isolating it, so you don't have the same problem you do now of
having potentially old debris. If you do find evidence of infestation,
re-wrap the piece and try to locate some freezer space for it ASAP.
Also, create/update the condition reports for the affected/suspect
artifacts, including your treatment of them (ie., vacuuming, freezing,
subject to anoxic environment, etc.). This can help you track the
problem if it persists, and may help guide future conservation of the
pieces.
If you need help identifying the casings, I've found a link I got off
this to be really helpful. It's the Ohio State University pest insect
database at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/htdigsearch/search.php just type
"carpet beetle" into the search field; the first hit you get will give
you illustrations of the bugs, descriptions of their habitats,
lifecycle, etc., and what to do about them.
Your situation may be a good impetus to beginning an Integrated Pest
Management System, incorporating isolation (as best you can) of incoming
artifacts, regular inspections of display and storage areas, use and
monitoring of various types of trap, having an action plan to turn to
when an infestation is discovered, etc.
Good luck!
------------------------------------------------------------
Tim McShane, Assistant--Cultural History
Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery
1302 Bomford Crescent S.W.
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 5E6
(403) 502-8587
>>> [log in to unmask] 05/30/03 10:00AM >>>
Ok all, I have a serious problem and need some advice.
I have just recently started working at my museum. The building has
been open since '94. and I just discovered what I believe to be carpet
beetle casings on numerous objects in the permanent cases and in our
period sitting room. Obviously this is BAD but now what do I do. I have
only found casings no live bugs. To make matters more difficult I don't
think the cases have been opened or the sitting room cleaned and
inspected since close to the beginning of the permanent exhibit being
set up. (Like many museums we started with volunteer staff and are
slowly moving to professionals. I am only the second person with museum
training to be hired.) So I don't know how old of casings I am looking
at, nor do I have a place to isolate or freeze these items. The best I
can do is put the smaller items in an anoxic microenvironment. I am in
the process of having the casings removed and the pieces vacuumed. Then
I plan to monitor to see if more casings appear. However I am open to
any suggestions as to how to proceed.
Thanks in advance
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