|
Post by Adam Cotton on Apr 2, 2021 0:23:07 GMT -8
Keeping the humidity as low as possible definitely prevents Psocid infestations, but is less of a deterrant to Dermestids. Of course it also prevents mould on the specimens themselves.
Adam.
|
|
|
Post by mothman55 on Apr 4, 2021 5:50:56 GMT -8
I saw on an old post that cedar oil may be effective to deter pests from your collection. At least it's safe. I soak cedar disks in cedar oil and deploy them in all my cabinets (not within drawers). So far so good.
|
|
|
Post by kevinkk on Apr 4, 2021 10:27:16 GMT -8
My 2008 Bioquip catalog lists Dichlorvos in a strip called "Hot Shot", and another version of it in a mini strip that doesn't need the kind of handling the strip needs.
My earlier comment here was a bit inaccurate, I'm not using napthalene, which seems to be somewhat interchangeable terminology with the Paradichlorobenzene I use, they sell it at the dept. store in bags of little packets of 2 discs for moth control.
Tight fitting cases and some initial pest control work well for me, it all depends on your particular situation, psciods (spelling) seem to be my biggest problem as far as collection pests.
|
|
|
Post by livingplanet3 on Apr 29, 2021 14:49:46 GMT -8
Freeze all the specimens in a sealed box, or put the display cases in plastic bin bags which are tied closed (squeeze out the air before tying) for a week, take them out for 8 -10 days without opening the seal (bag or box) and then put them back in the freezer for another week. Repeat with all your boxes which you suspect may have been infested. After the 2nd freeze stand the box at room temperature for 24 hours before opening the seal to prevent condensation. The reason 2 cycles of freezing are used is because adults and larvae will die when frozen, but eggs will not. When the box is removed from the freezer the egs will hatch within 7 days, and the 2nd freeze will then kill them. Adam. Has it been quantitatively shown that dermestid infestations require double freezing to kill the eggs? I've always used just a single (week long) cycle, and not had any issues as a result. Maybe I've just been lucky? I should probably mention that I used a chest freezer for the process, set to the coldest temperature possible.
|
|
|
Post by exoticimports on Apr 29, 2021 15:06:58 GMT -8
In my experience a few days well below freezing kills all dermestids. I’m sure more scientific tests have been conducted
|
|
|
Post by alandmor on May 14, 2021 10:32:18 GMT -8
In my experience a few days well below freezing kills all dermestids. I’m sure more scientific tests have been conducted Seems like the jury is still out on the best way to control dermestids by extreme heat or cold. From a 2016 review article titled: A review of diapause and tolerance to extreme temperatures in dermestids (Coleoptera). D.M. Wilches et al. 2016. Journal of Stored Products Research 68:50-62 Abstract: Numerous species in Family Dermestidae (Coleoptera) are important economic pests of stored goods of animal and vegetal origin, and museum specimens. Reliance on chemical methods for of control has led to the development of pesticide resistance and contamination of treated products with insecticide res- idues. To assess its practicality as an alternate method of control, we review the literature on the tolerance of dermestids to extreme hot and cold temperatures. The information for dermestid beetles on temperature tolerance is fragmentary, experimental methods are not standardized across studies, and most studies do not consider the role of acclimation and diapause. Difficulties in determining the diapause status of dermestid larvae may explain the lack of studies. The few studies that do examine these factors show that they can greatly increase tolerance to cold temperatures. The use of extreme temperatures will need to target the most tolerant life stage, which for dermestids at cold temperatures will potentially be the cold-acclimated individuals in diapause. The development of effective protocols will be facilitated by studies that clearly and completely describe experimental and statistical methods, consider factors (life-stage, acclimation, diapause) that increase tolerance to extreme temperatures, and assess the mortality at various temperatures to develop mathematical models. The complete paper should be available at the link below: drive.google.com/file/d/1Nfz7m7oR6qoczT-uHnE8C7JCK7MiB8cY/view?usp=sharing
|
|