preservation of insects without using naphthalene

[Stan Gorodenski]

Instead of killing all you really need to do is repell. I have mentioned 
before that I had some papered butterflies stored for about 30 years. 
When I opened the box I expected to see a lot of dermestid damage. There 
was none. In the box I had stored some felt, cut to the size of the 
plastic containers BioQuip sells, that had been exposed to Chlorocreosol 
many years ago and they still had the smell. Either I lucked out or the 
residue smell from Chlorocreosol had repelled the pests. Could 
Chlorocreosol have repelled them?
Stan

Grkovich, Alex wrote:

>Actually, in the past year I have started to use cedar oil impregnated onto a cotton ball in each drawer...This in association with two applications of PDB annually, in a 1/2 inch dia. PVC pipe cap, located in a corner of each drawer...So far, no indication of a problem in any box (of 60)...but I am sure that I need to do more to be sure that a problem doesn't develop...Freezing the specimens before they go into the box is a good consideration...
> 
>Napthalene is no good for killing an infestation...but I understand that it does work in terms of keeping them out...PDB is better...Paul C's notes on an application of no more than a pencil-reaser sized piece of vapona per drawer is interesting...He is right, too..vapona (Shell "No Pest Strip") is readily available at Home Depot...I bought a package a few months ago but have not used it yet... 
> 
>The boxes should be periodically inspected for openings at the edges etc. that can develop from handling them, opening and closing the lids etc....
> 
>Alex 
>
>________________________________
>
>From: owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu on behalf of drdn at mail.utexas.edu
>Sent: Mon 10/31/2005 4:36 PM
>To: rworth at oda.state.or.us
>Cc: LEPS-L
>Subject: Re: preservation of insects without using naphthalene
>
>
>
>The safest method is to store the collections range (cabinets or drawers in
>compactors) in an airtight room. Once or twice a year at the time of holidays,
>air is evacuated from the room and replaced by carbon dioxide. I have been
>trying to convince administrators to provide me with such a facility for more
>than 30 years. Good luck! My argument is - if chip-making engineering labs can
>have comparable facilities so should we in entomology. This method has the
>advantage that no residue is left.
>   Currently I use 1) pyrethrum powder in the drawers under the trays, 2)
>tanglefoot around the doors to keep the ants out, 3) periodic inspection of
>every drawer.
>   Napthalene does not seem to work very well
>   Paradichlorobenzine dissolves plastics and has been associated at least
>anecdotally with liver cancer in some individuals although I knew one 90-year
>old curator who was a heavy cigar smoker in a stifling PDB room and showed no
>ill effect. *Boloria toddi* was named for him.
>   Dichlorvos/Vapona poisons insect pests. It also leaves a yellow crystalline
>condensate on some kinds of metal like the screws in steel cabinets. I cannot
>use Dichlorvos because it seems to exacerbate mental depression.
>   Oil of cedarwood (in a reservoir in each drawer) works. I use cedar strips
>spiked with oil of cedarwood in the shelves behind my books.
>   Beyond the zone of comfort it is customary to turn off the building heat in
>the middle of winter and let subzero temperatures kill any infestations.
>...............Chris Durden
>
>Quoting Richard Worth <rworth at oda.state.or.us>:
>
>  
>
>>Hi Cathy,
>>The use of Vapona, as suggested by Jonathan, works very well.  There
>>are still some possible long term health effects, though, with any
>>pesticide. However, it is important that the specimen drawers have
>>tight fitting lids and that the cabinets are sealed or infestation
>>could always be a problem.  Some museums also have dedicated freezers
>>and cycle the specimen drawers through on a regular schedule.  One
>>should also freeze specimens BEFORE they are incorporated into a drawer
>>or one could introduce an infestation.  Possibly a combination of
>>different approaches.
>>Hope that helps a little,  Rich
>>
>>
>>On Oct 31, 2005, at 12:09 AM, Cathy Young wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Dear Colleagues
>>>
>>>I am the curator of a large museum of pinned insects. At present we are
>>>canvassing alternative methods of pinned insect preservation without
>>>using
>>>naphthalene. Our collection of approximately 100,000 specimens is
>>>currently
>>>housed in metal cabinets and drawers with naphthalene as the principal
>>>insect repellant. Has anyone on the list had any experience of
>>>switching to
>>>an alternative repellant or means of preservation, especially with a
>>>large
>>>collection?
>>>
>>>Cheers
>>>
>>>
>>>Dr Cathy Young
>>>Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment
>>>Hobart
>>>Tasmania
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>Richard Worth
>>Oregon Dept. of Agriculture
>>Plant Division
>>503-986-6461
>>rworth at oda.state.or.us
>>http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/index.shtml
>>
>>
>>
>>
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