Hi Sara, Looking at comparative risk, the commercial cut flower vector is the least problematic one of the 'flowers in museums' group of questions. As you explained, they are going through a controlled import route which gives them a phytosanitary OK. The 'dermestids on flowers' question is likely taken care of by pesticides that are used to ensure perfection for market, refrigerated conditions for transport and storage, and so on. If you find dermestids on these flowers after the exhibit is up a while, it is also reasonable to suspect them to have already been in the building. But do take a look through the material and ask if there are any locally sourced plant materials included in the stuff being brought in. The worst vector is fresh cut wildflowers from the fields or gardens nearby brought in for a 'harvest home' type feel, as they are most likely to have dermestes on them and you risk introducing gravid females to your collections. Sincerely, Tom Strang Canadian Conservation Institute | Institut canadien de conservation Senior Conservation Scientist | Scientifique principal en conservation Institut Canadien de Conservation | Canadian Conservation Institute Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0M5 [email protected] Téléphone | Telephone 613-998-3721 (extension 239) Télécopieur | Facsimile 613-998-4721 Téléimprimeur (sans frais) 1-888-997-3123 | Teletypewriter (toll-free) 1-888-997-3123 "Sara Helm" <sh...@longwoodga rdens.org> To Sent by: <[email protected]> pestlist-ow...@mu cc seumpests.net Subject [pestlist] Spraying cut flowers for 08/24/2009 02:38 installation in a museum PM Please respond to pestl...@museumpe sts.net Hello, A colleague of mine has been asked to spray cut flowers with insecticide prior to their display in a museum. Does anyone have information as to what he should spray them with or if they truly must be sprayed? They are being imported from Holland, and will have an Export Certificate, which indicates that they have been inspected for pests (and likely sprayed) prior to their leaving Holland. The main concern is that since they will be cut flowers, if we spray them here in the US when they arrive, there is usually a 24- to 36-hour period when people cannot be exposed to the sprayed plants due to safety regulations. This will considerably shorten the time period when they can be displayed in the museum. Thank you for any knowledge you may impart, Sara Helm Research Assistant Longwood Gardens Inc. P.O. Box 501 Kennett Square, PA 19348 (Embedded image moved to file: pic09601.gif)
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