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Dear Thomas and Rachael, Thank you both very much for your advice regarding the casings on the arrow. Thomas, I have just received the Hickin book you recommended from the library and the cluster on page 25 does look similar to the eggs that I've found. However, the author also says that Anobium punctatum eggs are "easily seen with the naked eye", which isn't the case here - mine are minute, a fraction of a millimeter really, can only be identified as insect eggs through microscopic analysis. Could it be another wood-boring speices? Rachael, there were a lot of casings in the joins of the bamboo cane, and a few behind the arrowhead barbs (in the plant fibres) as well. To complicate matters, my arrow has quite a lot of sand from original province stuck to it, and it's hard to tell wheather the granular material in the cane joins is frass or sand. I didn't find any exit holes on my arrow, although I've discovered there was another arrrow in the collection with lots of old damage from woodworm. In general, how prone are palmwood and cane to woodworm attack? In this case it seems like the insects have nested in the crevices and sheltered areas, but didn't actually do any visible damage. On balance, I've decided to carefully remove the casings with a pin. I have photographed them and made up slides, so that the information is still there if the museum wants to investigate any further. Again, many thanks for your help. Maria From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Insect egg casings on a Melanesian arrow Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 01:16:02 -0500 Dear Maria, Glad to see that you were able to successfully post to the listserv. Tom Parker is a very experienced entomologist so it is great that he responded. Based on the image I would assume that this evidence of pest activity has nothing to do with the life history of your artifact and can/should be removed. If it is annobium punctatum you will want to monitor the piece to ensure that there is no active infestation. How many egg casings did you find? Just the one you photographed or more? Are there any small holes that might be insect exit holes. Any sandy granular material that might be frass? Rachael Perkins Arenstein A.M. Art Conservation, LLC Art Conservation, Preservation & Collection Management [email protected] www.AMArtConservation.com 917-796-1764 From: maria ledinskaya [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 4:07 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Insect egg casings on a Melanesian arrow Hello, I am a postgraduate conservaton student from the University of Lincoln currently working on this arrow from the Santa Cruz islands of Melanesia. I have found tiny (less than 1mm long) slightly elongated, whiteish-transluscent egg casings (picture attached) underneath the arrow's barbs and in the joins of the bamboo cane. I suspect these may be booklice, but can equally be something from the object's province of origin. Can someone advise me? Many thanks, Maria > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: Web Site Comment or Question > Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 19:30:00 -0500 > > Dear Maria, > You do not need to have a password to post to the pestlist. I am assuming > that you followed the directions on our Join the PestList page? > http://www.museumpests.net/becomeamember.asp > > You should receive an email confirmation of your subscription and then to > post to the list you merely need to address your email to > [email protected] > One way to test whether you successfully subscribed is to try sending your > message to the list. If it bounces back we'll know that your subscription > wasn't fully activated yet. > > I have seen pest casings firmly embedded in ethnographic artifacts > particularly from Asia and the Pacific so I can understand how it may > sometimes seem confusing whether they are part of the life history of the > object or a more recent sign of pest activity that must be promptly dealt > with. You are welcome to send me your image and I'll give you my opinion > and once your subscription to the Pestlist is confirmed you can post there > to receive other opinions. > Best, > Rachael > IPM Working Group Chair > > > Rachael Perkins Arenstein > A.M. Art Conservation, LLC > Art Conservation, Preservation & Collection Management > [email protected] > www.AMArtConservation.com > 917-796-1764 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 12:29 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Web Site Comment or Question > > Name: Maria Ledinskaya > Email: [email protected] > Comment > ------- > Hello, > I am a postgraduate conservation student at the University of Lincoln (UK). > I have found some insect egg casings on an ethnographic object (arrow from > Santa Cruz, Melanesia. I am not sure if they are booklice (and should be > removed), or something from the original province (and therefore should > stay). I have a picture of one and need some expert advice! Please let me > know how I can go about it - I have tried to join Pest List, but I don't > think I can post anything yet, as I don't have a password. Many thanks, > Maria > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this list send an email to [email protected] and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to [email protected] with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email [email protected] or [email protected]
