Susan, natural history specimens are no more tolerant than are any other
objects of chemical pesticide treatments, and such treatments often
damage the specimens more than the pests. Have you considered anoxic
enclosures for the things too large or too temperature-sensitive to
freeze? A how-to technical leaflet by John Burke was published in the
SPNHC Leaflet sent out with the SPNHC Newsletter last spring. I would be
glad to send a complimentary copy if you would like.

Please spare your specimens the rigors of Vapona (DDVP), PDB, and all the
other "treatments" that may be recommended by the well-meaning. These put
both specimen integrity and human health at risk.

Cheers, and good luck,

Sally Shelton
Director, Collections Care and Conservation
Preseident-Elect, SPNHC


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|                                                                       |
|                 San Diego Natural History Museum                      |
|                          P. O. Box 1390                               |
|                San Diego, California   92112  USA                     |
|             phone (619) 232-3821; FAX (619) 232-0248                  |
|                     email [log in to unmask]                          |
|                                                                       |
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On Tue, 24 Sep 1996, Susan G. Denney wrote:

> We have a large natural history collection that consists of various
> stuffed and mounted specimens that is infested with dermestid (carpet)
> beetles.  We can freeze the smaller items in our Wei T'o freezer, but
> the larger pieces will not fit in the freezer compartment and we
> are considering the use of  a chemical  pesticide to eradicate the
> infestation.  Does anyone recommend a specific product, if any?  TIA.
> Susan G. Denney
> Assistant Curator of History
> Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
> Canyon, Texas
>