HI Nancy, I have to be the devil’s advocate and ask if you’re sure that it’s the button that the frass if from? A dermestid’s frass usually is the color of what it’s fed on. I realize that the button has been fed upon or damaged in some way, however it looks more as if a mouse nibbled at it over a dermestid. A dermestid will go after horn however, so it’s not completely off the hook as a possibility.
The way the frass is kind of clumped together rather than granule, fine dusty frass like you see with dermestids. I’m suspecting webbing or casemaking cloths moths having eaten something else that was near this object. They always seem to leave a surface looking dirty with frass. It could very well be old frass. Are there any other objects that were near it or on top of it? If it’s new to your institution, you could be looking at frass that was deposited onto the surface from wherever it came from. Just throwing some thoughts and observations out there. ☺ I enjoy the problem solving process! Best, Matt Matthew A. Mickletz Manager Preventive Conservation Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library Direct 302.888.4752 5105 Kennett Pike Winterthur, DE 19735 Winterthur.org<http://www.winterthur.org/> From: pestlist@googlegroups.com [mailto:pestlist@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jenner, Nancy@Parks Sent: Friday, January 21, 2022 11:48 AM To: pestlist@googlegroups.com Subject: [PestList] Frass and damage on horn button Hello-- we're cleaning and processing some collections that have already been through a freeze cycle. One item (a fabric bag with a button closure) has buttons that are seriously damaged, and residual frass. I've tentatively identified this as a horn button, and my guess is that this is damage from dermestid larvae. Wondering if anyone might be able to confirm that, or suggest another culprit? (note-- the fabric is not damaged) Thanks very much! Nancy Nancy Jenner, Curator California State Parks Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park & State Indian Museum email: nancy.jen...@parks.ca.gov<https://mail.ces.ca.gov/owa/redir.aspx?C=jJluFg7_mEi3of46FM5M6OmwzYHxpNEICYcwc450-lvcaP93f2ErmvC4eB3LyAF_QBOALB_BK3k.&URL=mailto%3aNancy.Jenner%40parks.ca.gov> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pestlist+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<mailto:pestlist+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com>. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/BY5PR09MB5425D61EF31734AB9614BE22B05B9%40BY5PR09MB5425.namprd09.prod.outlook.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/BY5PR09MB5425D61EF31734AB9614BE22B05B9%40BY5PR09MB5425.namprd09.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. This message came from outside of Winterthur and has been scanned for viruses. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pestlist+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/DM5PR17MB1402FFCE8EFA3BEFC3688D7AAB5B9%40DM5PR17MB1402.namprd17.prod.outlook.com.
