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Hello Jessica,
I can’t answer most of your questions but diatomaceous earth is
used for passive treatment of bed bugs and other insects. They physically have
to crawl across the sediment for it to have effect, it scratches their
undersides and ends up killing them. Exterminators will place it around trim,
in corners, electrical outlets, anywhere that they may be hiding. Generally in
treatment an insecticide or other poisonous substance is used as a more active
treatment so you may want to research the types that were used at the time of
treatment in your area for health and safety concern for staff. There is food
grade diatomaceous earth so it isn’t in and of itself necessarily harmful to
you beyond irritation to eyes or lungs even if this particular usage it isn’t
food grade. The issue would be more if it’s ground into the collections or
related concerns.
Typical ‘waiting them out’ treatment can be up to two years. If
they’re been sealed or isolated for the 10+ years since treatment it’s likely
that there isn’t a concern but I would be personally very concerned as you
sound like you might be. No good story ever started with, “So I found this bed
bug……”.
William Shepherd
Collections Officer
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Jessica Lian Pace
Sent: September 8, 2017 12:25 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [pestlist] Bed bugs treated with diatomaceous earth
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Hello everyone,
A curator is considering bringing in an archival collection consisting of paper
and media materials that was treated for a bed bug infestation with
diatomaceous earth 10+ years ago. We don't have much information on how the
treatment was implemented. The problems with diatomaceous earth residue on
collections materials aside, is it an effective means of treatment?
Information on how long bed bugs and their eggs can remain dormant and how to
best assess the efficacy of the remediation would also be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Jessica
--
Jessica Pace
Preventive Conservator
Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department
NYU Libraries
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
(212) 998-2518
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