[Nhcoll-l] Post for our mammal collection manager about dermestids

[Anderson, Gretchen]

Hi Maria,

The recommended temperature for kill temperature is -20 C, which translates to about -5 F.  I generally aim -20 C (-5F), and try to keep the specimens in for at 2 weeks. In the CCI article on pests Tom Strang research suggests that one week at -30C should be sufficient. Your freezer should not be a self-defrosting unit (the self-defrost cycle raises the temperature which will make the treatment less effective). Finally If your freezer ranges from 0 to -5F this might build up resistance to cold in the insects. https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__canada.pch.gc.ca_eng_1444922929038-23pest-2Dparasites5&d=CwIFAw&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=be_TNnIizOIQzlZclC5XqQUehFYukmJd_Y_C5ms-Rxw&s=4bNSh_3revBNV5JtdWJEFjwTIhs0FcEv9xwaReoAZn4&e= 

Also, remember that these temperatures do not necessarily kill the eggs, although they do appear to damage them so you have to continue to monitor after you have cleaned all of the frass you can find off of the specimens.  Retreat as necessary.

The other thing to note is that you should be double bagging all specimens to reduce fluctuations in relative humidity during the freezing process.

Good luck!
Gretchen Anderson


From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Bentley, Andrew Charles
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 4:39 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Cc: Eifler, Maria <meifler at ku.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Post for our mammal collection manager about dermestids

Does anyone have any information or know of any references on the effect of temperatures warmer than the recommended -20 F (-29 C) on the life cycle of dermestids? Specifically, can a freezer that gets down to 0 to -5 F (-17 to -19 C) kill dermestids and their eggs if material is kept at that temperature for 1 week?

Thanks!

Maria

Maria Eifler, Ph.D.
Collection Manager, Mammals
KU Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Institute
(785) 864-6989

Please respond directly to her at meifler at ku.edu<mailto:meifler at ku.edu>

Thanks

Andy

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335
Email: abentley at ku.edu<mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
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