[pestlist] clothes moths infestation at home
This is a message from the Pest Management Database List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I've recently discovered that I have clothes moths at home. I'm pretty sure they are casemaking (found some empty cases under a rug and in a couple of sweaters but have yet to find live larvae). I've already caught an adult catching a ride on me and I'm concerned about infesting our collection area. Since it's at home I'm willing to take more drastic measures than I would at work. Does anyone have suggestions beyond thorough cleaning, inspection and bringing everything to the dry cleaners? I've found them throughout my apartment. I am hesitant to call an exterminator unless it's necessary. Thanks, Kirsten Kirsten Kvam Curator Point Reyes National Seashore 1 Bear Valley Road Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 (415) 464-5218 (415) 464-5229 (fax) kirsten_k...@nps.gov - To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestl...@museumpests.com To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com
Re: [pestlist] ID help, please
Hello Patty, My entomologist suggests a psocoptera and says to check your books as that is what they like to eat. Marty Buxton On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 12:47 PM, Silence, Patricia wrote: > We are finding these in traps in one Historic House. Tick marks on the > side are .1 mm. Very tiny. Any suggestions as to who they might be? > > Thank you, > > Patty > > > > Patricia Silence > > Conservator of Museum Exhibitions and Historic Interiors > > The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation > -- Marty Buxton Curator of Natural History & Exhibits Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (925) 627-2937
RE: [pestlist] FW: [OSG] FW: question about use of Vikane on collections
I have not used Vikane as a fumigant as our museums use a system of CO2 fumigation. A quick search of the literature brought up this piece of research from the University of Florida via the Getty Conservation Institute. http://www.getty.edu/conservation/science/abstracts/1.5.html This abstract seems to put the efficacy of Vikane on a variety of pests into question. I was wondering if there was a reason why a regime of anoxia might not be more appropriate? For small amounts of objects an oxygen scavenger system can work but for larger volumes a containment bubble with CO2 or Nitrogen may be needed. You may want to check with the IPM resources listed below for other research information and possible vendors. http://www.collectioncare.org/cci/ccipc.html http://ipm.montana.edu/index.html http://www.wrpmc.ucdavis.edu/ Good luck, Jamie Hascall Chief Preparator Museums of New Mexico Exhibits Central 120 Lincoln Av. Santa Fe, NM 87501 505-476-5079 From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Rick Kerschner Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 10:45 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] FW: [OSG] FW: question about use of Vikane on collections Thought I would forward this on to the pest list. Richard L. Kerschner Director of Preservation and Conservation Shelburne Museum PO Box 10, Route 7 Shelburne, VT 05482 (802) 985-3348 x3361 rkersch...@shelburnemuseum.org From: osg-l-boun...@lists.stanford.edu [mailto:osg-l-boun...@lists.stanford.edu] On Behalf Of Riccardelli, Carolyn Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 10:53 AM To: os...@lists.stanford.edu Subject: [OSG] FW: question about use of Vikane on collections This message was sent directly to me by someone who doesn't have access to the OSG-L. I told her I'd post it for her. If anyone has thoughts, they should respond directly to Amanda Trum astreetert...@mt.gov as she will not be able to see any responses on the OSG-L. -cr Carolyn Riccardelli Associate Conservator Sherman Fairchild Center for Objects Conservation Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10028 Voice: 212.396.5498 * Fax: 212.570.3859 From: Trum, Amanda Streeter [ at...@mt.gov] Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 4:51 PM To: Riccardelli, Carolyn Subject: question about use of Vikane on collections Hello Ms. Riccardelli, It was suggested that I contact the AIC Objects Specialty Group with my questions about the use of Vikane to treat pest-infested objects in our collection. Is it safe to use Vikane on objects that contain wool and leather (specifically chaps and saddles)? Are there specific temperature requirements in using it (like temp must stay above 45, etc.)? Is it necessary for staff to wear HEPA masks or take any special precautions when handling objects after they have been treated with Vikane? Thanks for your help! Sincerely, Amanda Trum Amanda Streeter Trum Collections Manager Montana Historical Society PO Box 201201, 225 N. Roberts Helena, MT 59620-1201 phone (406)444-4719 fax (406)444-2696 astreetert...@mt.gov Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, including all attachments is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited unless specifically provided under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of this message. -- This email has been scanned by the Sybari - Antigen Email System.
RE: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits
There are many many instances of "clothing" moths infesting exhibits and buildings. I recently saw an instance where the wool carpeting in the auditorium of a museum was literally shredded by moths and had to be completely replaced. Moths do not differentiate between storage and exhibition - they are looking for some thing edible in an environment where they will thrive. Taxidermy is highly susceptible. I recently cleaned a deer mount that was full of moth frass, most likely from when it was on exhibition (sorry no records). Wool carpet and other wool and protein based items are all susceptible. And it is a critter that is very difficult to completely eliminate once they are established. Also remember that while the moth larva might not eat the skin, it can and will damage the skin, graze along the surface, and is capable of boring through a skin. I have seen inuit gut parkas that have been damaged in this way. Gretchen Anderson Conservator Carnegie Museum of Natural History From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Molly Gleeson Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 4:08 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits This is interesting, however, I'm wondering how many instances there are of collections becoming infested by clothes moth larvae while on display? I guess I've never heard of that, but I'd be interested to know if this is a frequent occurrence and a problem. We generally don't let the public in storage areas, and, in my limited experience, that is where the majority of these infestations occur. best, Molly Molly Gleeson Conservator of Archaeological and Ethnographic Objects San Diego, CA From: Heather Thomas To: pestlist@museumpests.net Sent: Thu, April 29, 2010 12:42:12 PM Subject: Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits Thanks for that Thomas. I thought that WCM would eat skin as they attack taxidermy specimens, leather and dried animal remains or is it only the fur, hair and feathers they eat? I'm starting to realise our collections would be a lot safer if we didn't let the public in the our museums. :-) On 29 Apr 2010, at 19:50, bugma...@aol.com wrote: Heather - When I give an IPPM lecture, I tell my audience a visitor drops 3 hairs and one fingernail per visit. WCM larvae will readily feed on the hair, but usually not the fingernails. Carpet beetles will feed on the fingernails. I know of nothing, which will damage collections, which will feed on skin cells. The public doesn't drop feathers. Generally I have found younger instars feeding on the debris in cracks between floor boards and bricks in a museum. Although I haven't seen it, I am assuming in a large public museum, there's enough protein debris for a WCM larva to complete its development and pupate utilizing the protein materials dropped by the public. Thomas A. Parker, PhD President, Entomologist Pest Control Services, Inc.
RE: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits
Hi Molly, Trust me, collections can become infested with webbing clothes moths while on display... Another good reason to display collections in well-sealed exhibit cases. --Tania Tania Collas Head of Conservation Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Molly Gleeson Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 1:08 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits This is interesting, however, I'm wondering how many instances there are of collections becoming infested by clothes moth larvae while on display? I guess I've never heard of that, but I'd be interested to know if this is a frequent occurrence and a problem. We generally don't let the public in storage areas, and, in my limited experience, that is where the majority of these infestations occur. best, Molly Molly Gleeson Conservator of Archaeological and Ethnographic Objects San Diego, CA From: Heather Thomas To: pestlist@museumpests.net Sent: Thu, April 29, 2010 12:42:12 PM Subject: Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits Thanks for that Thomas. I thought that WCM would eat skin as they attack taxidermy specimens, leather and dried animal remains or is it only the fur, hair and feathers they eat? I'm starting to realise our collections would be a lot safer if we didn't let the public in the our museums. :-) On 29 Apr 2010, at 19:50, bugma...@aol.com wrote: Heather - When I give an IPPM lecture, I tell my audience a visitor drops 3 hairs and one fingernail per visit. WCM larvae will readily feed on the hair, but usually not the fingernails. Carpet beetles will feed on the fingernails. I know of nothing, which will damage collections, which will feed on skin cells. The public doesn't drop feathers. Generally I have found younger instars feeding on the debris in cracks between floor boards and bricks in a museum. Although I haven't seen it, I am assuming in a large public museum, there's enough protein debris for a WCM larva to complete its development and pupate utilizing the protein materials dropped by the public. Thomas A. Parker, PhD President, Entomologist Pest Control Services, Inc.
Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits
Hi Molly, I should make it clear that my moth problem is not in the collection but in the fabric of the building ( as far as I can deduce) I think the moths are living under the floors (it's an old building with gaps between boards and so stuff falls down there) Heather On 29 Apr 2010, at 21:08, Molly Gleeson wrote: This is interesting, however, I'm wondering how many instances there are of collections becoming infested by clothes moth larvae while on display? I guess I've never heard of that, but I'd be interested to know if this is a frequent occurrence and a problem. We generally don't let the public in storage areas, and, in my limited experience, that is where the majority of these infestations occur. best, Molly Molly Gleeson Conservator of Archaeological and Ethnographic Objects San Diego, CA
RE: [pestlist] ID help, please
Sorry, not .1mm, 1.0 mm! Patty From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Silence, Patricia Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 3:48 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] ID help, please We are finding these in traps in one Historic House. Tick marks on the side are .1 mm. Very tiny. Any suggestions as to who they might be? Thank you, Patty Patricia Silence Conservator of Museum Exhibitions and Historic Interiors The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits
This is interesting, however, I'm wondering how many instances there are of collections becoming infested by clothes moth larvae while on display? I guess I've never heard of that, but I'd be interested to know if this is a frequent occurrence and a problem. We generally don't let the public in storage areas, and, in my limited experience, that is where the majority of these infestations occur. best, Molly Molly Gleeson Conservator of Archaeological and Ethnographic Objects San Diego, CA From: Heather Thomas To: pestlist@museumpests.net Sent: Thu, April 29, 2010 12:42:12 PM Subject: Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits Thanks for that Thomas. I thought that WCM would eat skin as they attack taxidermy specimens, leather and dried animal remains or is it only the fur, hair and feathers they eat? I'm starting to realise our collections would be a lot safer if we didn't let the public in the our museums. :-) On 29 Apr 2010, at 19:50, bugma...@aol.com wrote: Heather - > >When I give an IPPM lecture, I tell my audience a visitor drops 3 hairs and >one fingernail per visit. WCM larvae will readily feed on the hair, but >usually not the fingernails. Carpet beetles will feed on the fingernails. I >know of nothing, which will damage collections, which will feed on skin cells. > The public doesn't drop feathers. Generally I have found younger instars >feeding on the debris in cracks between floor boards and bricks in a museum. >Although I haven't seen it, I am assuming in a large public museum, there's >enough protein debris for a WCM larva to complete its development and pupate >utilizing the protein materials dropped by the public. > >Thomas A. Parker, PhD >President, Entomologist >Pest Control Services, Inc. > > > >
[pestlist] ID help, please
We are finding these in traps in one Historic House. Tick marks on the side are .1 mm. Very tiny. Any suggestions as to who they might be? Thank you, Patty Patricia Silence Conservator of Museum Exhibitions and Historic Interiors The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation <>
Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits
Thanks for that Thomas. I thought that WCM would eat skin as they attack taxidermy specimens, leather and dried animal remains or is it only the fur, hair and feathers they eat? I'm starting to realise our collections would be a lot safer if we didn't let the public in the our museums. :-) On 29 Apr 2010, at 19:50, bugma...@aol.com wrote: Heather - When I give an IPPM lecture, I tell my audience a visitor drops 3 hairs and one fingernail per visit. WCM larvae will readily feed on the hair, but usually not the fingernails. Carpet beetles will feed on the fingernails. I know of nothing, which will damage collections, which will feed on skin cells. The public doesn't drop feathers. Generally I have found younger instars feeding on the debris in cracks between floor boards and bricks in a museum. Although I haven't seen it, I am assuming in a large public museum, there's enough protein debris for a WCM larva to complete its development and pupate utilizing the protein materials dropped by the public. Thomas A. Parker, PhD President, Entomologist Pest Control Services, Inc.
Re: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits
Heather - When I give an IPPM lecture, I tell my audience a visitor drops 3 hairs and one fingernail per visit. WCM larvae will readily feed on the hair, but usually not the fingernails. Carpet beetles will feed on the fingernails. I know of nothing, which will damage collections, which will feed on skin cells. The public doesn't drop feathers. Generally I have found younger instars feeding on the debris in cracks between floor boards and bricks in a museum. Although I haven't seen it, I am assuming in a large public museum, there's enough protein debris for a WCM larva to complete its development and pupate utilizing the protein materials dropped by the public. Thomas A. Parker, PhD President, Entomologist Pest Control Services, Inc. -Original Message- From: Heather Thomas To: pestlist@museumpests.net Sent: Thu, Apr 29, 2010 12:21 pm Subject: [pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits This is a message from the Pest Management Database List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Dear all, Does anyone know how much food (hair. fur, skin cells, feather etc) a clothes moth larvae gets through from hatching to pupating? I'm working out how much edible 'debris' a human may drop whilst on the average museum visit and need to know how many moth larvae this will support. Thanks in advance Heather Thomas 3rd year BSc (Hons) Conservation & Restoration London Metropolitan University. - To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestl...@museumpests.com To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com
[pestlist] FW: [OSG] FW: question about use of Vikane on collections
Thought I would forward this on to the pest list. Richard L. Kerschner Director of Preservation and Conservation Shelburne Museum PO Box 10, Route 7 Shelburne, VT 05482 (802) 985-3348 x3361 rkersch...@shelburnemuseum.org From: osg-l-boun...@lists.stanford.edu [mailto:osg-l-boun...@lists.stanford.edu] On Behalf Of Riccardelli, Carolyn Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 10:53 AM To: os...@lists.stanford.edu Subject: [OSG] FW: question about use of Vikane on collections This message was sent directly to me by someone who doesn't have access to the OSG-L. I told her I'd post it for her. If anyone has thoughts, they should respond directly to Amanda Trum astreetert...@mt.gov as she will not be able to see any responses on the OSG-L. -cr Carolyn Riccardelli Associate Conservator Sherman Fairchild Center for Objects Conservation Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10028 Voice: 212.396.5498 * Fax: 212.570.3859 From: Trum, Amanda Streeter [ at...@mt.gov] Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 4:51 PM To: Riccardelli, Carolyn Subject: question about use of Vikane on collections Hello Ms. Riccardelli, It was suggested that I contact the AIC Objects Specialty Group with my questions about the use of Vikane to treat pest-infested objects in our collection. Is it safe to use Vikane on objects that contain wool and leather (specifically chaps and saddles)? Are there specific temperature requirements in using it (like temp must stay above 45, etc.)? Is it necessary for staff to wear HEPA masks or take any special precautions when handling objects after they have been treated with Vikane? Thanks for your help! Sincerely, Amanda Trum Amanda Streeter Trum Collections Manager Montana Historical Society PO Box 201201, 225 N. Roberts Helena, MT 59620-1201 phone (406)444-4719 fax (406)444-2696 astreetert...@mt.gov --++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== osg-l mailing list os...@lists.stanford.edu https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/osg-l
[pestlist] Clothes Moth Eating Habits
This is a message from the Pest Management Database List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Dear all, Does anyone know how much food (hair. fur, skin cells, feather etc) a clothes moth larvae gets through from hatching to pupating? I'm working out how much edible 'debris' a human may drop whilst on the average museum visit and need to know how many moth larvae this will support. Thanks in advance Heather Thomas 3rd year BSc (Hons) Conservation & Restoration London Metropolitan University. - To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestl...@museumpests.com To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com
