ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN INSECTS FEEL THE URGE! HOW THEY CAN TELL WHEN THE RIGHT TIME IS IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED BUILDING IS A MYSTERY TO ME. IT DOESN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT OUR SYSTEM! WE'VE HAD AN OUBREAK OF CARPET BEEETLES IN OUR BONES COLLECTION. ATTHIS TIME OF YEAR IN NEW ZEALAND THEY ARE IN THIER FLYING STAGE. IDENTIFIED INFESTATIONS HAVE BEEN TREATED BY FREEZING. HOWEVER WE ARE STILL CONCERNED THAT THE INFESTATION MAY HAVE SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS. THEREFORE WE PROPOSE THAT OUR COLLECTION STORES BEFOGGED WITH A PESTICIDE. THE PESTICIDE THAT THE APPLICATOR, RENTOKIL, PROPOSES TO USE IS DIAZINON (EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATE, 20%) DISPERSED IN WATER. QUESTIONS: DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW IF THIS CHEMICAL IS EFFECTIVE? DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THIS PESTICIDE, BOTH FOR HUMANS AND COLLECTIONS? I DO NOT TRUST THE PEST CONTROL COMPANIES TO BE FULLY COMPETENT IN BEATING INFESTATIONS IN MUSEUMS OR BEING CONCERNED OR KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT SAFETY ASPECTS. ANY INFORMATION ANYONE HAS ON THIS PRODUCT OR SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS OR PROVEDURES WOULD BE GREATLY RECEIVED! MANY THANKS STUART MCADAM THE SCIENCE CENTRE AND MANAWATU MUSEUM PALMERSTON NORTH, NEW ZEALAND. PLEASE REPLY TO [log in to unmask] Tim Gilbertson Curatorial Assistant The Science Centre & Manawatu Museum Private Bag 11055, Palmerston North, New Zealand ph: 06-3514 309 fax: 06-3583 552 e-mail: [log in to unmask]