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Post by Lucanidae on Oct 3, 2017 23:50:08 GMT
Everyone here knows about cedar oil but has anyone tried bay leaves, citrus oil and tried citrus peel? The citric acid can kills insects by contacts.
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Post by nomad on Oct 4, 2017 7:39:06 GMT
Not sure natural substitutes is the way to go, how about Zenzect balls. I have been using them for a year and as long as you replace them, they seems to work very well in spite of what I read on facebook when they first appeared. Kills Museum Beetles and mites. I know a member who tried to replace his vapona with Cedar oil and he had a problem with pests.
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 4, 2017 9:06:37 GMT
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Post by Lucanidae on Oct 4, 2017 11:06:30 GMT
I think I will experiment with bay leaves, citrus peels and camphor. I only have beetles and not as easily attacks like butterflies.
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 4, 2017 16:41:24 GMT
Beetles are as easily attacked as butterflies.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Oct 4, 2017 17:09:29 GMT
Beetles are as easily attacked as butterflies. ... but the effects may not be obvious as quickly. Adam. |
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Post by johnml on Oct 7, 2017 20:20:06 GMT
I have just refurbished 10 old drawers,I decided to spray the insides of the drawers with permethrin while they are empty.My plan is to leave one with no other protection and keep a close eye on it to see how effective the permethrin is.Hope it works!
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Post by nomad on Oct 7, 2017 20:47:08 GMT
Good luck with the permethrin. After a really unpleasant experience with ticks in the Lake District, I sprayed two sets of cloths and did not get another tick when I went into the local woods. Lets hope it kills any Dermestids too. A Good idea, I hope it works.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Oct 7, 2017 20:57:45 GMT
Indeed, and please let us know how the control experiment works out. Make sure you don't put valuable specimens in the unprotected drawer.
Adam.
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Post by neominois on Oct 22, 2017 16:46:09 GMT
Forget natural techniques. There is only one way to keep pest out of the collection permanently, and that is No-Pest Strips cut into squares and placed in each insect box. It's cheap, has no smell, and KILLS any pest insect that is in, or might get in the box. They are 100% the best thing to use and you can get them at any hardware store, or Wal-mart! It is a neurotoxin to arthropods. Everything I have with insects in it has one piece of No-Pest strip inside it!
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billg
New Aurelian
Posts: 29 
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by billg on Oct 30, 2017 14:42:14 GMT
I use Cedar Oil as a deterrent and Vapona pieces as the killing agent with great success. Interestingly, when I dry my boards with specimens in the incubator at 115 degrees, they come out free of any pests.  |
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 30, 2017 14:47:11 GMT
In the future, I'd like to buy such an incubator. Any brand / model to advice ?
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billg
New Aurelian
Posts: 29
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by billg on Oct 30, 2017 14:53:55 GMT
For the Vapona (yellow piece at upper left of center), I cut them to about 7mm x 7mm pieces and put on a pin not touching a specimen. They last a long time depending on how often one opens the drawer.  |
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billg
New Aurelian
Posts: 29
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by billg on Oct 30, 2017 15:08:40 GMT
I bought a digital forced air type which holds enough boards depending on size. The link to the one I got is below. I must (as I was so warned) advise anyone not to exceed 115 degrees. Also, be sure that all wing surface area, especially the edges, be covered with paper or glass. Exposed wing edges in the machine likely will cause some degree of curling. When I bring them out having put glass slides on the wings, I let the board with specimens sit a while and let them reach the room temperature. I've had a few wings want to curl if I take off the slides too soon. When I wait a bit, all works great. Yes, there is a cost to them. I recently sold off much of my world moths and beetles so I had the bucks. This was one of the great things about not overdoing the purchasing of worldwide bugs anymore. I actually get to spend money on field collecting equipment, mounting equipment etc. I still have enough of the cool overseas stuff, just not the ssp. depth or drawers and drawers of rare small series. I'd buy some are moth, put it in among the others of its sp., and maybeeeee look at it a few times a year. My total focus has changed from that to doing more in the field now that I'm retired. www.labdepotinc.com/p-60026-compact-forced-air-incubator.php?c=442btw... I got the 12-140AE model and it is great. If you call the place, they are very good to work with. If you are serious, call them and say you want one......could they come down any on the price? ....or.....could they toss in free SH? |
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 30, 2017 15:23:14 GMT
Thanks I should move to a new house next year. When done, I will sure invest in such a useful tool.
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