Bernice, let me echo Carolyn's thoughts on these critters. Both the brown scavenger beetle (fungus beetle) and psocids indicate that you have moisture problems. Either high humidity or leakage. A combination of controlling the moisture and housekeeping usually does the trick. Look for leakage, maybe from an HVAC, maybe from related to roofing problems or building maintenance. The last time I dealt with the scavenger beetle we discovered that the mortar around some stone blocks was completely disintegrated. Once it was repaired the bugs left and a bunch of other chronic water problems disappeared!
Gretchen Sent from my iPhone On May 26, 2015, at 4:00 PM, Carolyn Leckie <clec...@mus-nature.ca<mailto:clec...@mus-nature.ca>> wrote: Hi Bernice I just thought I would add a few practical words about our experience with these pests. We have sporadic appearance of both booklouse (psocids) and minute brown scavenger beetles. They come and go. While we do not like them, after much experience, research and reflection (I can provide more info if you like) we tend to "mentally classify" them as "humidity indicators" or warning signs of potentially more damaging humidity related pests e.g. silverfish. That is not to mean we ignore them. In one area of the building we know why we have a small cyclical problem with the minute brown scavenger beetle (50%RH and hygroscopic cellulose in a fireproofing material on overhead metal beams). In the other room there is a small HVAC unit with an emergency drip pan underneath and a drain tube that leads to a bucket. We think the occasional drips of water that wind up in the bucket cause the spike in psocids. We hope to work with Faclities to find a slightly better system that the bucket. Ironically we try to call the booklouse, psocids because we find it a little less alarming and helps us keep it in perspective when we are monitoring their numbers. I hope that helps Carolyn Leckie Conservator Canadian Museum of Nature From: Louis Sorkin [mailto:sor...@amnh.org] Sent: May-26-15 3:12 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Subject: [pestlist] RE: identification help please BTW there's also a booklouse in one of the pictures (the one with the pale beetle). Sorry, misspelled in this sentence. Ventral views and tarsal views would help, but the latter might be difficult to provide. From: Louis Sorkin [mailto:sor...@amnh.org] Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 1:44 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Subject: [pestlist] RE: identification help please The paler one might be a bit younger than the darker one and hasn't yet tanned and darkened. These look like members of the Latridiidae and probably belong to a species of Corticarina or Corticaria, possibly leaning toward a member of the first genus. Vental views and tarsal views would help, but the latter might be difficult to provide. Louis N. Sorkin, B.C.E. Entomologist, Arachnologist, Myriapodologist Division of Invertebrate Zoology American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, New York 10024-5192 sor...@amnh.org<mailto:sor...@amnh.org> 212-769-5613 voice 212-769-5277 fax The New York Entomological Society, Inc. www.nyentsoc.org<http://www.nyentsoc.org/> n...@amnh.org<mailto:n...@amnh.org> From: Morris, Bernice [mailto:bernice.mor...@philamuseum.org] Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 10:30 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Subject: [pestlist] identification help please Can anyone help me to identify these small insects? They are about 2mm long and were found near wooden objects. Many thanks! Bernice Bernice Morris Associate Conservator of Costume and Textiles Philadelphia Museum of Art 215-684-7579 bernice.mor...@philamuseum.org<mailto:bernice.mor...@philamuseum.org> [http://nature.ca/email/signatures/animalinsideout/aio_email_signature.jpg]<http://nature.ca/en/plan-your-visit/what-see-do/our-exhibitions/animal-inside-out?utm_source=Email+Signature+Graphic&utm_medium=CMN+Email&utm_campaign=Animal-Inside-Out> Info<http://nature.ca/fr/planifiez-votre-visite/voir-faire-musee/expositions/animaux-corps-ouvert?utm_source=Email+Signature+French+Text&utm_medium=CMN+Email&utm_campaign=Animal-Inside-Out> More information<http://nature.ca/en/plan-your-visit/what-see-do/our-exhibitions/animal-inside-out?utm_source=Email+Signature+English+Text&utm_medium=CMN+Email&utm_campaign=Animal-Inside-Out> The information contained in this message and/or attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system and destroy any copies. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender.