[Nhcoll-l] Forum Post Mammal Specimen Fungi

[Simon Moore]

Ethanol is good as it neutralises the fungus and acts as a ‘cleaning’ agent at the same time.  You can apply with an artist’s brush or cotton buds and just swab it away.  If you’re worried about skin dehydration then the buds may work better but take longer.With all good wishes, Simon.

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian, 



www.natural-history-conservation.com 




> On 14 Mar 2019, at 23:33, Malorri Hughes <malorri at pdx.edu> wrote:
> 
> We were hoping to post the following message and photos to the listserv if possible. Thanks for any help you can provide. 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi all, 
> 
> We recently noticed a fungus on several bat specimens in the collection at Portland State University (photos attached). We think it is recent as it wasn't noticed during the previous monthly pest checks, but it is possible it was just less noticeable previously. Either way, it seems to be spreading throughout the case quickly now. 
> 
> We also noticed (what we think is) a second fungi (a mold?) on rodent skeletons (Peromyscus) (photo attached). These specimens went through a Dermestid colony several years ago, we're wondering if this mold developed during that process and was not detected then or is more recent. 
> 
> We aren’t sure how best to tackle this issue. We are freezing the specimens in hopes that it will kill the fungi, but we have been told that this may not work. Ethanol has also been suggested, but we are not sure if it would be safe to use on the skin specimens or if it would be effective. 
> 
> Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated. We have photos of both fungi under a compound scope as well if anyone wants to see those. 
> 
> Thank you for your time! 
> -- 
> Malorri Hughes, MS
> PhD Student
> Duffield Lab
> Department of Biology 
> Portland State University
> <DissectionScopeMouseSkullWhiteFungus1.JPG><BatSkinFungus_BrownAndWhite.JPG><DissectionScopeBatSkinWhiteFungus.JPG>_______________________________________________
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