--Thanks for your reply, Richard! I understand your concerns and share them. Currently I am just trying to hear from experts in the field because I am a novice at IPM!
We experience flies year-round in a few of our buildings, and I have also guessed that they're probably cluster flies. I would love to hear your recommendation options for treating them! They have definitely wreaked havoc on our cultural center and are probably multi-generational. I have been trying to understand them since I started this job about 7 months ago and while they are always there, they are worse in spring and summer. Like I said in my first email, we've attempted to seal this building but with little result.
Any recommendations for mitigation and prevention efforts for the silverfish, booklice, and dermestids? I'm following the basics of IPM lined out in FUNdamentals of Museum IPM by Christa Deacy-Quinn. I monitor with sticky traps, diligently clean collections and exhibit spaces, we've tried sealing potential entrances, we keep food and water out of collections spaces, we've effectively been able to freeze past infestations, etc. I'm not sure what else I can do honestly, which is the only reason I'm considering pesticides. I understand and agree that they're not the most environmentally responsible choice, but they are currently my last resort.
Josie Sneed-Gilliam
Collections Care Associate
The Indian Museum of North America®
Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation
(605) 673-4681
From: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Pollack, Richard J <richard_poll...@harvard.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2024 2:06 PM
To: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [PestList] Re: Working with pest companies--Josie,
I would generally discourage efforts to spray the outside of the building, as I think it would neither be particularly effective nor sustainable. One could also argue that it wouldn’t be environmentally responsible.
What kind(s) of flies are entering in abundance, and during what seasons? Are you burdened with them now? If so, these likely are cluster flies that have been overwintering within the attic or wall voids, but then cause havoc within the human-occupied spaces. There are options to better manage these flies that don’t depend upon frequent and widespread pesticide applications.
I anticipate that dermestids, booklice, and silverfish are already in residence within the museum. Accordingly, I’d encourage mitigation and prevention efforts inside to protect your accessions while continuing to exclude entry of new ones from outside.
Richard J. Pollack, PhD
Senior Environmental Public Health Officer
Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) | Harvard Campus Services
46 Blackstone Street., Cambridge, MA 02139
C: 617-447-0763
www.ehs.harvard.edu
President & Chief Scientific Officer
IdentifyUS LLC
https://identify.us.com
From: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Josie Sneed-Gilliam <josie.sneed-gill...@crazyhorse.org>
Date: Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 11:34 AM
To: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [PestList] Working with pest companiesHello all,
My institution struggles with pest management due to the nature of construction and age of our buildings. Some of our biggest threats are dermestids, booklice, and silverfish. We also play host to many flies, which not only poop on our collections, but provide a meal for and attract more dermestids. Attempts at sealing our buildings have been made but we still struggle. Our problems are so extreme that we're considering spraying the OUTSIDE of our buildings to help mitigate these risks.
The pest company has recommended the following products: demand, Temprid, and Delta guard granulars. I've spoken to the pest company about wanting to keep the pesticides outside because we're a museum, and they understood. I was hoping to receive some opinions about the safety and efficacy of the use of these chemicals and others at your institutions for pest management. Please feel free to share any experiences you find relevant to this topic, positive or negative! Thanks.
Josie Sneed-Gilliam
Collections Care Associate
The Indian Museum of North America®
Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation
(605) 673-4681
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