arumi
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Posts: 83
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Post by arumi on Nov 6, 2012 23:05:11 GMT -8
Hi there.
I know that subject already abused, many people use classic methods for collection protecting, like moth balls=naphtalene, Dichlorvos, some piretroids.
but that all pretty harmfull, naphtalene and piretroids - cancerogenic)
Some people use regular freezing, but I do not have big, empty freezer for that.
Someone used cedar and lavender oil, smells good and harmless, but that cant obliterate invaiders, just repellent!
So I wanna found compromis, effective and harmless method, some chemical or another ones.
What do you think about that?
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arumi
Full Member
Posts: 83
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Post by arumi on Nov 7, 2012 0:50:43 GMT -8
Also, what I should put in my exicator while I will relax my beetles, like anty-mold. I know about thymol, phenol and another toxic, I need some harmless
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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 7, 2012 1:32:39 GMT -8
TCP is an effective antimold agent to add to your relaxing box and is safe as it is used commonly as an antiseptic mouthwash. Thymol and phenol are not particularly toxic, unless you swallow them, I use both as well. They smell better than TCP which has a very pungent antisceptic smell. Thymol attacks many plastics, so it can be problematic to use.
If your insect collection is kept in a well ventilated room then the risk of fumes from mothballs, PCB etc will be minimal. I use these chemicals in all my cabinets and their smell is not noticable in the room.
Johnny
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arumi
Full Member
Posts: 83
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Post by arumi on Nov 7, 2012 1:57:05 GMT -8
what is TCP? that may make relaxed beetles fragile, like alcohol?
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Post by bobw on Nov 7, 2012 3:05:36 GMT -8
I also always use TCP in my relaxing box as a mould inhibitor. It's a mild antiseptic containing phenol and halogenated phenols as active agents. One of it's main uses is as a mouthwash so it should be safe, although it's recommended not to swallow it.
Bob
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Post by Chris Grinter on Nov 7, 2012 18:23:53 GMT -8
By definition a harmless chemical for your collection will do no harm, either to you or to the insects you're trying to keep out of your collection. While there are many Pyreathroid based insecticides that are essentially harmless to humans but instantly deadly to insects, they do not last for more than a few minutes and aren't practical for collection management. You can also find some insect grown regulator chemicals that are also relatively harmless to humans (search Gentrol). But they are not 100% effective nor do they keep out an adult invader.
Freezing, good drawers, and regular checks are my primary method and so far I've only lost a tiny handful of specimens.
As for your relaxer I am an advocate of NOTHING. Use just water and keep an eye on it. If you need more than 3/4 days to relax something you should try injecting hot water. If you wash your relaxer with very hot water and a small dash of alcohol you won't ever have a mold problem.
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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 8, 2012 0:11:48 GMT -8
I agree with Chris that relaxing insects using water alone will usually be OK, as long as you don't leave the insects too long.
However, sometimes the specimens (especially tropical species) to be relaxed will already have some mould on them, either visible or invisible to the naked eye. In those cases a damp atmosphere will quickly encourage the mould growth. Just a very few crystals of phenol, dissolved in the water used to relax the specimens, will prevent moukd spreading.
Johnny
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