Rather than treating them to prevent pests--which means poisoning them--you
would be better off to use an integrated pest management approach to the
housing of the bones.  They can be bagged in polyethylene, for example, to
monitor them for pest infestations, and then the cases elevated off the
floor a few inches.  Sticky traps can be used to check for pests before
housing them in the collection permanently.  Monitoring, proper housing and
good housekeeping is far more effective in preventing pest infestations than
the use of chemicals.

Check:

Williams, S.L.  1992.  Metal frames for raising storage cases above floor
surfaces.  Pp 253-254in Storage of Natural History Collections: Ideas and
Practical Solutions, SPNHC.

Jessup, Wendy C.  1995.  Pest management.  Pp. 211-220 in Storage of Natural
History Collections: A Preventive Conservation Approach, SPNHC.

Jacobs, Jeremy F.  Pest monitoring case study.  Pp. 221-231 in Storage of
Natural History Collections: A Preventive Conservation Approach, SPNHC.

--John

-----Original Message-----
From: Margaret M. Tamulonis [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 1:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: treatment of bones

--
Hello again Listers--

Here's another one--Does anyone have suggestions on good resources for the
care
of bones (of various ages, some collected in the 1800s) within museum
collections? I am especially interested in the care of bones coming in from
other collections--how can I treat them prior to storing them in collections
in
order to prevent pests?

Thank you again for any help,

Margaret Tamulonis
Project Manager
The Fleming Museum
The University of Vermont
802-656-0153

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