Dear Beth,
Beth,
Sticky traps work well to monitor and evaluate the extent of any infestation
(they will not get rid of a problem). Pheromones will attract your silver
fish. However, killing the silver fish with a chemical has the potential for
additional problems later on. Any poison will often times allow the creature
to return to its hiding spots to die. Once deceased, the insect will
decompose, now the insect has the potential for attracting other creepy
crawlies to eat out the insides (great nutritional source) and/or use the
remaining carcass as a host site for laying eggs. The best way to deal with
any insect problem or to prevent a problem is to:
1. Monitor (sticky traps are great)
2. Clean, clean, clean
3. Treat any potential problem before it gets out of hand.


Lisa Scholten
Curator of Collections
South Dakota Art Museum


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Alecia Parker
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2000 6:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: silver fish


Beth,
I have never heard of that particular product.  One of
our sites is currently having a silver fish problem,
and the research we are conducting tells us that
silver fish are one of the most difficult insects to
get rid of.  (Which would tend to make me doubt the
'satisfaction guaranteed' claim.)Our treatment has
begun with a company like Terminix placing a lot of
glue traps (like for roaches) and pheramone traps to
determine where in the building they are spending the
most time.  From there we will apply a crack and
crevice treatment in the concentrated areas.  The one
thing I learned from spending the morning with the
Terminix technician is that silver fish can be anyway
- he even put the glue traps along the edges of our
wooden ceiling.  Perhaps the Walter Drake packets do
kill silver fish if they encounter it, but you'd have
to place it where'd they'd be most likely to come
across it.

I don't have the URL with me at home, but one of the
resources we looked at was information on one of the
National Park Service web pages.  We also called the
North East Document Conservation Center and they
provided us with non-cemical methods of treatment -
such as freezing and microwaving.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Good luck with your problem!

-Alecia Parker
Historic Annapolis Foundation


--- Beth Ryan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Museum-L,
>
> Has anyone ever used this product from "Walter
> Drake":
>
> "Silverfish Paks
> Kill silverfish without fuss or bother! Silverfish
> Paks destroy these year-
> round pests that eat wool, paper, linen and
> cellulose materials. No harmful
> sprays or powders will touch your hands. Place
> odorless, wafer-thin packets
> under rugs, behind curtains, in closets and dark
> hidden places. Used by
> libraries, museums and pest control companies . . .
> satisfaction is
> guaranteed. Place away from children and pets. Box
> of 24.
>
> Price: $9.99
> 2 or More $9.49  (each)"
>
> I found a note from the previous curator and I have
> never heard of this
> product before.  We have a real problem with silver
> fish.  Thank you for
> any information or any suggestions about solving
> this problem.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Beth Ryan
>
>
=========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may
> obtain detailed information about the listserv
> commands by sending a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the
> message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one
> line e-mail message to [log in to unmask]
> . The body of the message should read "Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).