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 <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Date: October 8, 2010 12:43:07 PM CDT To: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: Fumigating cabinets - bug infestation Reply-To: Mammalian Biology <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> - [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> http://www.ufpe.br/mastozoologia/
