[Nhcoll-l] Advice for pests in collections

[Amanda Neill]

Hi Mireia,

We use Gentrol in the BRIT Herbarium.  We have had no outbreaks since we started using it a couple of years ago:

http://zoecon.com/familyofproducts.php?family=Gentrol
“(S)-Hydroprene, the active ingredient in Gentrol, prevents pest larvae from progressing to the adult stage, either causing sterility of adults or preventing the emergence of insects from the pupal stage.  Since the baby bugs can’t grow up, they die, and since the adults can’t breed, the entire population will die out rapidly.  This chemical has no effect on humans and is safe for use in hospitals, schools, and places where food is prepared.  There is very little odor and what little there is will dissipate quickly.”
It is sprayed lightly on the inside of our cabinet doors every quarter I think, and does not seem to leave any residue.
Amanda

Amanda K. Neill |  Director of the Herbarium (BRIT-SMU-VDB) |  817.546.1842 |  BRIT.org<http://www.brit.org/>  | Botanical Research Institute of Texas  | 1700 University Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76107-3400 USA | Think Before You Print


From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Mireia Beas-Moix
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 8:05 AM
To: NHColl
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Advice for pests in collections

Hi all,

We discovered a cigarette beetle pest infestation in one of our herbarium rooms. We bagged the specimens, proceeded with the two-cycle freezing treatment and cleaned the cabinets thoroughly. However, the cabinets in that room are old and do not seal properly.

We follow an integrated pest management program for our collections and avoid the use of chemicals. However, in this case we are considering spraying the cabinets with some pesticide to eliminate any possible beetle remains and avoid the development of a new outbreak.

After some research, it looks like pyrethrum has been used in some collections, although others mention that it did not work at all. What is your advice?

Thank you,

--
Mireia Beas-Moix
Collections Manager
Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration
University of California Santa Barbara
Harder South, Rm 1009
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9615

beas-moix at ccber.ucsb.edu<mailto:beas-moix at ccber.ucsb.edu>
Office 805 893 2401
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