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Thanks, Alex! I did come across a document suggesting the use of a desiccant but that was after I had already wrapped the items to protect them from termites and hurricanes. I shall "cheerfully" unwrap everything I've sealed like death and do as you have suggested. Thank you for being so quick and thoughtful with your responses. Warm regards. Hazra C. Medica Advisor/Consultant on Cultural Matters Ministry of Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs Ministry of Sports, Culture & National Festivals St. John's, Antigua W.I. ________________________________ From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net <pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net> on behalf of Alex Roach <alexro...@modifiedatmospheres.com.au> Sent: Tuesday, 07 November 2017 23:35:21 To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: Re: [pestlist] Suggestions re solutions for termite infestation in the tropics This is a message from the Museumpests.net List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hi Hazra It's a bit hard to say with mould. Some mould attacks can spread very quickly, but it depends on the conditions (i.e. heat and rh), the material being stored, the mould type and how much mould is present. Given the urgency of your problem freezing is a good way to go, but maybe you could use barrier bags (the ones we use for low oxygen work) instead of PE for freezing? The benefits are the conditions inside the bag won't fluctuate like they can in PE bags and the barrier properties prevent most pests from finding the bagged items (e.g. silverfish). Barrier bags come in a range of pre-fab sizes - check with Jerry Shiner at Keepsafe for sizes, etc. If the storage area is high in humidity then you might want to consider placing a desiccant or buffer in the bags before you seal them? Best wishes Alex On Wed, 8 Nov 2017 at 9:24 am, Hazra Medica <hazra.med...@ab.gov.ag<mailto:hazra.med...@ab.gov.ag>> wrote: This is a message from the Museumpests.net List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hi Alex, Thank you so much for taking the time out to respond to my questions. I've indeed been thinking freezing might be my best option. I do have another question given your mention of the risk of mould. How long is it safe to have these items bagged/wrapped tightly in plastic before we subject them to freezing? I am trying my best to move rather quickly with this project but sometimes things go slow. Best regards. Hazra Medica Advisor/Consultant on Cultural Matters Ministry of Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs Ministry of Sports, Culture & National Festivals St. John's, Antigua W.I. ________________________________ From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net> <pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net>> on behalf of Alex Roach <alexro...@modifiedatmospheres.com.au<mailto:alexro...@modifiedatmospheres.com.au>> Sent: Monday, 06 November 2017 20:31:30 To: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Subject: Re: [pestlist] Suggestions re solutions for termite infestation in the tropics This is a message from the Museumpests.net List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hi Hazra Bagging infested/suspect materials and freezing will be a great approach for treatment of the items. Storing the (treated) materials up off the floor post freezing (i.e. on blocks or tables) will enable you to keep an eye out for further termite attack. If you're dealing with drywood termites then even small wooden items can contain colonies, but again freezing would be a suitable approach (assuming items won't be damaged by freezing). You could go down the low oxygen path for treatment, but it's much more expensive. One large bag could be used to treat the entire collection, or you could make several smaller bags. The small bag approach provides you with a stable storage environment for the collection while you work through cataloging, etc. Another major advantage is that you won't be facing a mould problem when it comes time to open the bags (a real risk when leaving items bagged in pe in poor conditions). As for treatment of the termite infestation (if you're looking at staying in the same building) it will depend upon the species of termite that is attacking, building type and other factors. Assuming that they're subterranean termites then baiting may be suitable as it will allow you to destroy the colony, but you may also be able to locate and destroy the nest directly. Best wishes Alex On Tue, 7 Nov 2017 at 2:11 am, Hazra Medica <hazra.med...@ab.gov.ag<mailto:hazra.med...@ab.gov.ag>> wrote: This is a message from the Museumpests.net List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for that note, Joel. Admittedly, my main goal right now is attempting to ensure that we're left with something to preserve until I get the "go ahead" to have the items removed and the suitable expert brought in to safeguard this very valuable collection. Hazra C. Medica Advisor/Consultant on Cultural Matters Ministry of Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs Ministry of Sports, Culture & National Festivals St. John's, Antigua W.I. ________________________________ From: Voron, Joel <jvo...@cwf.org<mailto:jvo...@cwf.org>> Sent: Monday, 06 November 2017 10:20:56 To: Hazra Medica Cc: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Subject: Re: [pestlist] Suggestions re solutions for termite infestation in the tropics Key note ..... wooden items would need to have a moisture content less than 19% in order for bag/isolation to be faster and a total guaranteed success depending of the extent and species of the termites. In case other are thinking this may work for all situations. JTV Joel Voron Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Conservation Dept. Integrated Pest Management Office 757-220-7080<tel:757-220-7080> Cell 757-634-1175<tel:757-634-1175> E-Mail jvo...@cwf.org<mailto:jvo...@cwf.org> [X] On Nov 6, 2017, at 9:06 AM, Hazra Medica <hazra.med...@ab.gov.ag<mailto:hazra.med...@ab.gov.ag>> wrote: This is a message from the Museumpests.net<http://Museumpests.net> List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hello, Kindly permit me to intervene into this space to ask for safe, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for remedying severe termite infestations of artefacts and documentary heritage that are slated to become part of a special museum collection. We have inherited a collection of artefacts and documents, many of which show clear signs of termite infestation or damage from said infestation and which are currently still being housed in a building suffering severe disrepair. In an effort to curtail the spread of the infestation whilst the pieces are still in their unsuitable environment, I have taken to bagging (wrapping the wooden sculptures in plastic bags and sealing them with tape. I have also isolated documents in bags. Removal from the premises is understood as a necessary step to ensure the rehabilitation of these items. Also, freezing has been suggested as well as anoxia. Any advice you give will be greatly appreciated as this is very new territory for us. Best regards Hazra C. Medica Advisor/Consultant on Cultural Matters Ministry of Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs Ministry of Sports, Culture & National Festivals St. John's, Antigua W.I. ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> <REH (18).jpg> <VCBH10917.jpg> <REH (10).jpg> <VCBHPER4.jpg> ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> -- Alex Roach Director Modified Atmospheres M: 0414 663 472 [http://modifiedatmospheres.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MA_original_300px.jpg] ABN: 66 164 577 557 ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> -- Alex Roach Director Modified Atmospheres M: 0414 663 472 [http://modifiedatmospheres.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MA_original_300px.jpg] ABN: 66 164 577 557 ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" OR just send an email to l...@zaks.com and ask to be removed. 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