Re: [pestlist] Square Necked Grain Beetles

[Louis Sorkin]

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If identification is correct, could there be a stored cache of food by
rodents and that's what's infested?



> Hello all,
>
> My name is Ryan Jones, and I am the IPM Specialist for the Colonial
> Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, VA.
>
> We have recently encountered a problem in one of our museums that we would
> like to get your input on.
>
> Approximately two months ago, we had a section of wood flooring torn out
> near one of the galleries in the DeWitt Wallace Art Museum. Around that
> time, we began to see large numbers of small, unidentified red beetles
> that were roughly 1/8 inch long in an office that was 150-200 feet away
> from the work-site. We sent these beetles off to a nearby university to be
> identified, and, to our surprise, the specimens were identified as Square
> Necked Grain Beetles. As you know, Square Necked Grain Beetles are a
> stored product pest that would likely be right at home inside  a container
> of corn meal, flour, or other food product. We have been puzzled, however,
> about how they could live in such large numbers in an art museum.
>
>  I have researched these insects online and have found no evidence that
> they would be able to survive in a subfloor or wall void without a food
> substance to sustain them. We have inspected the surrounding workshops
> and mechanical rooms, break room, and other areas that might play host to
> an infestation of these insects, but have had no luck finding a source.
> The beetles continue to be found in some of our textile displays, on the
> wood floor beside the baseboards in sporadic areas throughout the museum,
> in hallways adjacent to the gallery, and in large numbers in the office
> where they were originally spotted.
>
> What are your thoughts on how we can get rid of these pests?
>
> Can Square Necked Grain Beetles thrive in an art gallery, or is there a
> possibility that the insect was misidentified?
>
> Is it possible that these beetles can invade from outside? (One of the
> common denominators seems to be that the sightings occur in close
> proximity to an exterior wall.)
>
> I am prepared to take pictures of the insects or send samples if need be
> to clarify what we are dealing with. I have reviewed pictures of this
> beetle online and the specimens look exactly like the ones we are seeing.
>
> Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ryan Jones
>
> Integrated Pest Management
> Specialist
>
> [cid:image003.jpg@01CB6A20.D504A420]
> P.O. Box 1776
> Williamsburg, VA 23187
>
> (757)  220-7080
> rjo...@cwf.org
>
>


-- 
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail


Louis N. Sorkin, B.C.E.
Entomology Section
Division of Invertebrate Zoology
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192

phone: 212-769-5613
fax: 212-769-5277
email: sor...@amnh.org

The New York Entomological Society, Inc.
email: n...@amnh.org
web: www.nyentsoc.org
Online journal from 2001 forward
www.BioOne.org



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[pestlist] Square Necked Grain Beetles

[Jones, Robert (Ryan)]

Hello all,

My name is Ryan Jones, and I am the IPM Specialist for the Colonial 
Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, VA.

We have recently encountered a problem in one of our museums that we would like 
to get your input on.

Approximately two months ago, we had a section of wood flooring torn out near 
one of the galleries in the DeWitt Wallace Art Museum. Around that time, we 
began to see large numbers of small, unidentified red beetles that were roughly 
1/8 inch long in an office that was 150-200 feet away from the work-site. We 
sent these beetles off to a nearby university to be identified, and, to our 
surprise, the specimens were identified as Square Necked Grain Beetles. As you 
know, Square Necked Grain Beetles are a stored product pest that would likely 
be right at home inside  a container of corn meal, flour, or other food 
product. We have been puzzled, however, about how they could live in such large 
numbers in an art museum.

 I have researched these insects online and have found no evidence that they 
would be able to survive in a subfloor or wall void without a food substance to 
sustain them. We have inspected the surrounding workshops and mechanical rooms, 
break room, and other areas that might play host to an infestation of these 
insects, but have had no luck finding a source. The beetles continue to be 
found in some of our textile displays, on the wood floor beside the baseboards 
in sporadic areas throughout the museum, in hallways adjacent to the gallery, 
and in large numbers in the office where they were originally spotted.

What are your thoughts on how we can get rid of these pests?

Can Square Necked Grain Beetles thrive in an art gallery, or is there a 
possibility that the insect was misidentified?

Is it possible that these beetles can invade from outside? (One of the common 
denominators seems to be that the sightings occur in close proximity to an 
exterior wall.)

I am prepared to take pictures of the insects or send samples if need be to 
clarify what we are dealing with. I have reviewed pictures of this beetle 
online and the specimens look exactly like the ones we are seeing.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ryan Jones

Integrated Pest Management
Specialist

[cid:image003.jpg@01CB6A20.D504A420]
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187

(757)  220-7080
rjo...@cwf.org

<>

RE: [pestlist] invasion of bugs at house museum

[Sarah_M_Allen]

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Return Receipt
   
   Your   RE: [pestlist] invasion of bugs at house museum  
   document:   
   
   wassarah_m_al...@nps.gov
   received
   by: 
   
   at:10/12/2010 01:00:22 PM MDT   
   




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RE: [pestlist] Anoxia Cabinet

[Jerry Shiner]

A rigid cabinet is not necessary for the creation anoxic conditions.
Many systems use flexible plastic enclosures (such as bags made of
barrier film), and remove the oxygen by purging with an inert gas
(usually nitrogen, CO2 or argon), or use oxygen absorbers (such as
Ageless) placed in the enclosure with the objects to be treated.
 
Cabinets will usually be more difficult to seal than a flexible
enclosure, and will likely mean that a far more complex method of
maintaining low oxygen conditions is needed.
 
While there may be some advantages to the different gasses used, the
differences between argon and nitrogen are small. CO2 is a poisonous
substance, and may be regulated by your local government agencies. 
 
It is more important to consider ease of use. This is more complex than
what gas to use, as you must consider the costs of buying or producing
the gas, the machinery needed to produce, humidify, and control oxygen
levels, the size of the projects you will be treating, and many other
important variables.
 
It is not possible to provide reliable advice without far more
information.
 
js  
 
Jerry Shiner
Keepsafe Microclimate Systems
800 683 4696  www.keepsafe.ca 
i...@keepsafe.ca
Specializing in the design, procurement, and installation of
environmental control systems in museums and archives.
 
 
-Original Message-
From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net
[mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of ¿ÀÁؼ®
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 1:58 AM
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Subject: [pestlist] Anoxia Cabinet


Hi all
 
I am seeking anoxia cabinet to eradicate insects for folk artifacts.
Would you recommend anoxia cabinet system ?
And which protocols(argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide) is effective to
eradicate insects ?
 
Sincerely
 
OH Joonsuk

---
Conservation Laboratory
The Natioal Folk Museum of Korea
110-820
1-1 Seojong-Ro Jongro-Gu Seoul
Republic of Korea
Tel 82 2 3704 3276
Fax 82 2 3704 3273
Mobile 82 10 7340 8419
Mail kcomm...@yahoo.co.kr 
js...@nfm.go.kr
---

RE: [pestlist] Fwd: Fumigating cabinets - bug infestation

[Pine, Steve]

Hello all:

Please excuse my clumsy cut and paste email but I wanted to send this out 
before I forget.  There is a study citation online that gives some indication 
of the impact of inert gas in high concentration on fungi.  Bob Koestler was 
part of the team.  Effect of anoxic conditions on wood-decay fungi treated with 
argon or nitrogen , 


References and further reading may be available for this article. To view 
references and further reading you must purchase 

  this article.

C. Tavzes  

 , a 

 , F. Pohlevena 

  and R. J. Koestlerb 

 

  
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VG6-44PX3Y9-5&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2001&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1495084603&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C50221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=89a7cab44e3a595c5f146e64efc12015&searchtype=a
 

  

 

In addition I've found that Dr. Valentin cited studies that assert anoxia 
suppressed bacterial and fungal growth. 

 

Valentín, N. 1990

Insect eradication in museums and archives by oxygen replacement, a pilot

project. In ICOM Committee for Conservation 9th Triennial Meeting, Dresden,

German Democratic Republic, 26-31 August 1990, Preprints, vol. 2, ed.

K. Grimstad, 821-23. Los Angeles: ICOM Committee for Conservation.

 

Steve

 

Steven Pine

Decorative Arts Conservator

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

P.O. Box 6826

Houston, TX 77265

P. (713) 639-7731

C. (281) 546-7059

 

 

 

From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On 
Behalf Of Kate Payne
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 10:21 AM
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Subject: Re: [pestlist] Fwd: Fumigating cabinets - bug infestation

 

Argon is generally considered an inert gas.   Please clarify why you are 
claiming that " 'inert' gases are likely to foster fungal growth."   You 
mentioning your use of argon systems for over 10 years would seem to contradict 
your own claim.   Any inert gas that can be use to displace O2 should actually 
inhibit bacterial and fungal growth.   One need only look to the use of 
nitrogen and carbon dioxide in food packaging used to increase shelf life.

Many thanks for any literature links you could send us to clarify what you 
meant.

-Kate Payne de Chavez

 



From: ulisses mello 
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Sent: Fri, October 8, 2010 6:22:18 PM
Subject: Re: [pestlist] Fwd: Fumigating cabinets - bug infestation

Dear Dr. Diego;

 

The most reasonable option is to use anoxic system, specially with argon 
protocol. This is due to the fact other "inert" gases are likely to foster 
fungal growth.

 

Please give me a call when you can, and I'll be pleased to help you as I'm 
using argon's anoxia systems here in Brazil for over ten years.

 

Best regards,

 

Ulisses Mello, Dip. Cons., PG
Art Care do Brasil

Mobile: +55 21 98979074

Office: +55 21 25587749

2010/10/8 Revelez, Marcia A. 

Forwarding t

Re: [pestlist] Fwd: Fumigating cabinets - bug infestation

[Kate Payne]

Argon is generally considered an inert gas.   Please clarify why you are 
claiming that " 'inert' gases are likely to foster fungal growth."   You 
mentioning your use of argon systems for over 10 years would seem to contradict 
your own claim.   Any inert gas that can be use to displace O2 should actually 
inhibit bacterial and fungal growth.   One need only look to the use of 
nitrogen 
and carbon dioxide in food packaging used to increase shelf life.

Many thanks for any literature links you could send us to clarify what you 
meant.

-Kate Payne de Chavez






From: ulisses mello 
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Sent: Fri, October 8, 2010 6:22:18 PM
Subject: Re: [pestlist] Fwd: Fumigating cabinets - bug infestation


Dear Dr. Diego;
 
The most reasonable option is to use anoxic system, specially with argon 
protocol. This is due to the fact other "inert" gases are likely to foster 
fungal growth.
 
Please give me a call when you can, and I'll be pleased to help you as I'm 
using 
argon's anoxia systems here in Brazil for over ten years.
 
Best regards,
 
Ulisses Mello, Dip. Cons., PG
Art Care do Brasil
Mobile: +55 21 98979074
Office: +55 21 25587749

2010/10/8 Revelez, Marcia A. 

Forwarding this for a colleague.  Please respond to Deigo (email below). 
>Thanks!
>
>
>Marcia A. Revelez
>Collection Manager
>Department of Mammalogy
>Division of Collections and Research
>Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
>University of Oklahoma
>2401 Chautauqua
>Norman, OK 73072 
>Phone: 405-325-7988
>Fax: 405-325-7699
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Begin forwarded message:
>
>From: Diego Astua de Moraes 
>>
>>Date: October 8, 2010 12:43:07 PM CDT
>>
>>To: 
>>
>>Subject: Fumigating cabinets - bug infestation
>>
>>Reply-To: Mammalian Biology 
>>
>>Hi all.
>>In a matter of days bugs have started to show in our skin cabinets. According 
>>to 
>>our entomologist they should be beetles that feed on wood or cellulose (sorry 
>>if 
>>the family names escapes right now), but other entomology curators have seen 
>>these eating almost everything in other regions of Brazil. Regardless of what 
>>they are, I want them all dead now!
>>In short, I need to get rid of them as quickly as possible, before the damage 
>>increases. Freezing is unpractical at this point, too many specimens and too 
>>little freezer space (we are talking about 3 cabinets with beetles confirmed, 
>>and about 3-4 others still intact, but that I want to protect as well). I´ve 
>>had 
>>suggestions of fumigating the entire cabinets using PDB balls, but I can´t 
>>seem 
>>to be able to find those here quickly.
>>Our entomology colleagues have suggested to use ethyl acetate and seal the 
>>cabinets so that it kills adults and larvae. My main doubt is if there is any 
>>knowledge that this may damage severely the skins (because if i don´t do 
>>anything quickly they are being damaegd anyway!), and if this would be 
>>enough. I 
>>am not sure about the amounts, I´ve read of a cotton ball in ethyl acetate to 
>>fumigate a small container to kill the ectoparasites of a single specimen, bu 
>>what about a whole cabinet? And how long should it be kept sealed? Or are 
>>there 
>>any other quick solutions, remembering that many "easy" solutions are now 
>>radily 
>>found around here!
>>thanks for any help.
>>Diego
>>
>>Diego Astúa de Moraes, D.Sc.
>>Departamento de Zoologia - CCB
>>Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
>>Av. Professor Moraes Rego, s/n.
>>Cidade Universitária 
>>50670-420 Recife, PE
>>Fone(fax): (81) 2126-8353
>>email: d.a.mor...@gmail.com - diegoas...@ufpe.br
>>http://www.ufpe.br/mastozoologia/
>>
>