Specimen storage

[joopes]

What are the lowest budget options for specimen storage that results in the least damage by Dermestidae and the like? 
As well as, what is the lowest budget methods of repelling Dermestids in a collection, while having the collection located in the same room as living insects?

[livingplanet3]

Repellents are often unreliable, and usually toxic. I've always had the greatest success with storing boxes of specimens in large, airtight zip seal bags (such as freezer bags). I've never had any pests get through such a physical barrier. As for specimen displays, they of course need to be fully sealed. Preventing pests from getting to specimens, rather than merely trying to repel them, is key.

[trehopr1]

I can only answer your first question with any certainty. The lowest budget means for storing specimens is the use of locking lid/snap-tight "clear viewing" tupperware. This may be purchased in various sizes of various depths.

Once you find a size you are happy with you will have to find yourself a craft-type store which offers sheets/boards of styrofoam. Only purchase thinly cut styrofoam sheets that are 1/2 inch or less in thickness. That way it's very easy to cut with a razor blade to the size of the bottom of your tupperware container.

Place your styrofoam sheet in the bottom of the container and add specimens.

Speaking for myself, I normally add one mothball to the container (brace pinned) in the corner. However, if you are fairly regularly looking at your specimens you probably won't even need a mothball if you are someone who is bothered by the smell of naphthalene. Never use PDB mothballs as they will melt the styrofoam and buckle the tupperware lid !

I have several of these to hold specimens which are awaiting the purchase of a drawer. I only buy about 4 drawers (a year) due to the cost; so my new acquisitions are housed in this manner for two or three months until the drawer comes along.

It is a system which has worked for me for a long time.

The problem I see with your second question is keeping these very containers in the same room with living insects or other creatures. Psocids (booklice) are always present because of the detritus of food bits or feces (from the living creature) being present. This is a bad mix because of the opportunity for psocids to get into your containers.

If you can keep the two in separate rooms everything should be just fine.

[exoticimports]

Cheapest method is papered, in high quality storage bags (Zip Loc) and then into plastic bins.

Don't bother setting specimens only to try to store them cheaply, it won't work.

Chuck