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Post by hellanichus on Mar 9, 2014 9:12:19 GMT -8
Greetings everyone. I was wondering if it is OK to freeze my dried butterfles to kill and parasites they may have?
I have had some problems in the past with specimens in Riker mounts that started to get eaten after many years on display. Also, how long would they need to be in the freezer to insure that any pests would be killed? I look forward to some replies.
Thank You,
Richard
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Post by jshuey on Mar 9, 2014 10:01:24 GMT -8
This is exactly how most US major museums control pests today. They move entire cabinets into the freezer once or twice a year to kill anything that might be living in the drawers.
John
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Post by bobw on Mar 9, 2014 10:41:28 GMT -8
Yes, most major museums now regularly freeze drawers to kill pests. The best thing is to give it at least 72 hours to kill any larvae/adults, however, this won't kill eggs. Leaving it at room temperature for a week after the original freezing should encourage any eggs to hatch, then freeze if for another 72 hours to kill any new larvae.
Bob
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tome
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by tome on Mar 11, 2014 1:16:09 GMT -8
I have heard that recent studies show that specimens are damaged if repeatedly subjected to freezing. Colours and structures are supposed to deteriorate. Then again freezing still seems to be the only practical way of getting rid of pests once a drawer has been affected. I use it myself, but only when I see signs of pests. This requires regular inspection of the collection of course.
Tom
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Post by jildertraul on Mar 9, 2015 14:47:34 GMT -8
Isn't a bit of naphtaline in your collection enough?
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Post by bobw on Mar 10, 2015 6:24:00 GMT -8
Isn't a bit of naphtaline in your collection enough? Many people don't like to use chemicals in their collections now as most are carcinogenic, in fact most museums ban them. I've found the only thing that really works to kill pests is paradichlorbenzene; naphthalene will keep pests away but won't necessarily kill an existing infestation. Both of these chemicals are banned in the EU and aren't available anywhere in Europe. I believe that you can still get them in States and presumably some other countries. I have a small stock of PDB left which I ration carefully until I next go to the States and can stock up again. Anyway, this is why freezing is becoming more popular. Bob |
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Post by Adam Cotton on Mar 10, 2015 6:24:40 GMT -8
Isn't a bit of naphtaline in your collection enough? Naphthalene can help protect a draw from pests on the outside, but it will not kill any pests already inside the draw. Anyway, I think its use has been banned in most places as it is a carcenogen. Adam. |
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Post by jildertraul on Mar 10, 2015 7:50:17 GMT -8
Okay, I didn't know that! By the way: here in the Netherlands napthalene is still obtainable...
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diddy
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by diddy on Mar 10, 2015 8:26:34 GMT -8
last year you could buy Paradichlorbenzol at German Insectfairs or order at German entomolgical suppliers.
I think it is still the same.
Dietmar
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Post by bobw on Mar 10, 2015 10:28:24 GMT -8
I'm very surprised you can still get these two chemicals in the Netherlands or Germany; there is supposed to be an EU-wide ban on them. I have tried to get PDB here in England and have been told that they are not allowed to sell it.
Bob
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Post by exoticimports on Mar 10, 2015 10:43:22 GMT -8
I still use PDB. Everything is known to the state of California to cause cancer, and now eggs no longer contribute to cholesterol; PDB is banned in EU but Muslim terrorists are OK. I dunno. I'll stick with what works.
That said, I did take advantage of the -15 C weather to put some infested drawers into the garage.
Perhaps contrary to popular observations, I have had good success with drawers in the refrigerator for a few days. I think my fridge is about +6 C. Yes above freezing, but I've not had the dermestids re-occur after that.
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Post by johnnyboy on Mar 11, 2015 0:15:24 GMT -8
PDB has still been available until recently, off and on, in some independent UK hardware stores in SE London, sold as carpet beetle killer. It says 98% paradichlorobenzene on the box. A collecting friend of mine said he thought it didn't smell like PDB (which I didn't agree with), however I got a research chemist friend to test it in the lab and it is PDB. Only thing is, as it is pressed into balls, it evaporates very slowly, and therefore although it lasts for ages, it doesn't produce alot of vapour in drawer. Might be better to crush them.
I still have a large supply of PDB crystals I got from Watkins and Doncaster about 1 month before the ban. I told Robin Ford the EU was going to ban it and he didn't believe me.
Transfluthrin, an effective insecticide that exerts a vapour pressure available in the "Zero" range in sachets or balls, is what I us in my vunerable drawers, together with moth balls and PDB.
Johnny
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Post by jildertraul on Mar 11, 2015 2:57:52 GMT -8
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Post by paulbodnar1 on Mar 13, 2015 16:00:31 GMT -8
Hi All, For the past ten years I have used Cedarcide (conc. cedar oil, diluted about 1 ounce of water soluble oil per 16 ounces of water. I have had ZERO issues with pests and can attest it is 100% effective and much safer then other chemical methods. Google cedar oil heath and safety. Nowadays, I do not even put a drop or two on a cord inside the cases, simply take a paper towel and place ten drops of solution on the outside of the case. Repeat every 6 months and it's safe, fast, and easy. Also, new papered specimens are quarantined before spreading a few drops of the cedar solution placed in a plastic container and left overnight KILLS any pests within hours. Mind that this has worked with over a thousand specimens and a high valued collection. Truly, Paul Bodnar Crocodile Wildlife Conservationist Attachments:
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Post by compsulyx on Mar 13, 2015 17:30:52 GMT -8
Dear Paul,
Coul you forward us your supplier's contact for the cedar oil please ?. I'm interested to buy some and try...
My brother in low jut built his house (wooden) and he bought very expensive red cedar tiles from North America (Canada I guess). When I help him to build the roof, I was impressed by the strong smell...nice and very strong one. The red cedar tilings are very hard and given for more than 50 years without any problems. In NA, some houses have the roof built with these red cedar tilings, and have more than 100 years old, with no problem...So I'm not surprised that the cedar oil is so effective on pests...
Thanks and regards
Thierry
Thierry
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