Hello everyone!
I received an email seeking advice on a product used to kill bed bugs - Aprehend<https://www.aprehend.com/treatment/>, a "natural biopesticide composed of Beauveria bassiana fungal spores" Here's what the person described: Bed bugs have been found in traps in the collections storage room (it's a standard office-size space with a locking door). A plan has been approved to use a product called Aprehend in the collections room. The manager says it gets applied via a pump spray bottle, and they would spot apply along the floor and baseboards. The door to the collections room would need to be left open to ventilate the room after application. I have recommended that they only leave the door open while staff are in the building, but that the room gets closed again at night. I'm wondering if a) are there any milder pesticides that could be applied first (albeit, time is of the essence with bed bugs), and b) if the Aprehend is used, will it be detrimental to the collection in any way? There are rarely people in the collections room (no curatorial staff at the park), so it's curious how the bugs got in there in the first place. The park has bats in the roof, and is wondering if they could be the vectors of the pests. Does anyone have any experience using this product, or any thoughts on whether it would be detrimental, if applied in the way that is described? Thank you! Fran Fran Ritchie Objects Conservator National Park Service Harpers Ferry Center [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Office: (304) 535-6701 Cell: (240) 338-0556 AIC Professional Associate Conservator "The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world." -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/SA9PR09MB555179B71623825EE3B4709BEB720%40SA9PR09MB5551.namprd09.prod.outlook.com.
