First, make sure that they are, indeed, carpet beetle casings (actually cast
larval skins). Rodent droppings and cockroach egg cases can be the same
size and color. If they are from carpet beetles - and there has been any
sort of recent activity - you should also find very fine powder (frass)
underneath the objects or on the floor below the furniture. Once you have
cleaned the debris, regular inspections are key. You might also want to
put out glueboards in appropriate places (along walls and in corners, but
not obvious to your visitors) to see what kind of critters get stuck. For
ID's many state agriculture extension offices will lend a hand, if you don't
have access to your own tame entomologist.
Janice Klein
Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College
[log in to unmask]
www.mitchellmuseum.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Jill K. Harris
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 12:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: bug casings.
I would be taking the exact same steps you are taking. I don't know of
anything else to do until it is determined if the infestation is currently
active. And, you are taking steps to determine that by removing the casings
(vacuuming) and then frequent inspections to see if more appear. I'd be
interested to know if anyone has other ideas too.
Jill K. Harris
Registrar
Virginia Museum of Natural History
1001 Douglas Avenue
Martinsville, VA 24112
276-666-8600 (main)
276-666-8618 (direct)
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: Registrar - Danish Immigrant Museum
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 12:00 PM
Subject: bug casings.
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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