Freeze Dried Butterflies?

Solution, diluted.

Many thanks Paul.
Do you store the diluted oil at room temperature or in the fridge ?. And how long the product can be stored ?.
Thanks again for sharing tips
Thierry

Hello Paul,

Maybe a stupid question, but do you put the paper with some drops on the top (so above the glass) of your collection as on the picture you have attached?

Hi All,

First, know that I have been using and testing Cedar Oil for the better part of ten years. I have posted many times about it here in the past.
I absolutely love using it, but I have to say while it does indeed repell dermestids,it does not, I repeat does not, kill dermestids. It is proven highly effective at repelling as it has not allowed one dermestid into my collection since I started using it.

If you would like a further read on it, find/google garthesinsectgradebook. Note that I would provide a link, but apparently am barred from listing a link to a free website.....sorry.

It is imperative that one is positive no pests are in a specimen being put into the drawer. I have tried to see if it kills and it has not for me. When I put some drops on one side of an experimental cigar box with both junker specimens and live dermestids, all that happened was the live dermestids were the farthest away from the side with the drops when I later checked. I firmly believe that no dermestid will willingly enter a drawer having the Cedar Oil.

Paul is correct to state that the solution you get from a supplier has to be diluted. One might 'think' that he/she should use it at 100% for more power, but it does not work that way. The thinner diluted liquid is much better at spreading the fumes and 100% non-diluted Cedar Oil will not. My information at the link is from the actual manufacturer and he also said that using a material like cotton, cork, or other high-surface area platform works best for distribution of the fumes. One quart bottle will last many many years with the dilution.

Any fumes of cedar you might smell are nice, but the ones we smell are not the particular oils that repel the pests. The Cedar Oil sold is actually made up of four oils. The ones we can't smell actually do the repelling.

Respectfully,

Hi Bill,

First I'd like to thank you for your insight and support.

I would like to share this experience, I use the cedar oil at a more concentrated ratio at about 1:15 or 1:20 ounces per water. I DO observe and have tested it to actually kill the dermestids. Method used: I have had butterflies sent with live pests chewing away at the bodies and wings. Often heart broken that I spent good money but someone has sent "crap". I place the infected papered specimens in a plastic shoebox on 2 or 3 dry paper towels and apply 4-5 drops of solution at my stronger concentration (looks like 2% milk).

Within 5-6 hours I observe the pests are dead. I then proceed to quarantine new arrivals over night in the shoebox, opened in the next morning all have died. It can kill many (some boxes literally have had 100+ little bugs chewing on precious specimens).

Along with the nice cabinets Tom made, I have many birdwings stored in cheaper glass and vinyl cases (not airtight), I don't even bother opening them up to place a drop on a cork square, simply I place a paper towel on the open portion of the glass, using a dropper place about ten drops on the paper towel then stack the next case on and repeat, usually 6-8 cases get stacked.

The weaker concentration I agree is a deterrent, but at the strength and amount I have used over the years, I can 100% give my testimony is does kill every single one of them within hours.


Truly,

Paul Bodnar

Why not just freeze them?