steve
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 53
Country: Australia
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Post by steve on Aug 25, 2015 2:18:26 GMT
Does anyone use chlorocresol?
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Post by timmsyrj on Aug 25, 2015 9:30:35 GMT
How large is the piece of Vapona? I used to use the larger pieces wrapped in plastic (10 x 2.5 cm), cutting them in half for use. They last at least 5 years in a drawer. Recently I began using the small pieces that are sold with 500 pieces in a bag (about 2.5 x 1.25 cm); I plan to use those for 3 years. After removal from the drawer, there is still use remaining: I gather them together and use them in bins of papered specimens (I add 5-6 pieces to each bin). I have had no problems with Zensect yet but I am interested to know where to get the bag of 500 pieces of vapona from. Rich
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Post by Paul K on Aug 25, 2015 13:21:12 GMT
I just started using Zensect ball in my first drawer in Thailand. I installed one ball per drawer. I am guessing that they have not enough power to kill but to prevent invasion. I also installed silica gel but it looks like it doesn't do to much in terms of removing humidity from drawer. The indicator card shows 50% ( that is the highest it is on the card ) so I have no idea what is the real humid level inside. I am monitoring the drawer daily for the signs of mould or wings movement which could indicate to much humidity inside.
Paul
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Post by deliasfanatic on Aug 25, 2015 13:31:02 GMT
How large is the piece of Vapona? I used to use the larger pieces wrapped in plastic (10 x 2.5 cm), cutting them in half for use. They last at least 5 years in a drawer. Recently I began using the small pieces that are sold with 500 pieces in a bag (about 2.5 x 1.25 cm); I plan to use those for 3 years. After removal from the drawer, there is still use remaining: I gather them together and use them in bins of papered specimens (I add 5-6 pieces to each bin). I have had no problems with Zensect yet but I am interested to know where to get the bag of 500 pieces of vapona from. Rich I get it from Great Lakes IPM in Michigan: www.greatlakesipm.com/2015%20CATALOG%20WEB.pdfIt's listed as "Hercon Vaportape" on page 9 of their catalogue.
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Post by Paul K on Sept 29, 2015 15:53:49 GMT
Warning!
Zensect balls do not kill or deter pests. I just found in my drawer Psocids using this product. I am not recommending Zensect as simply it doesn't work. Now I have to get Vapona strips somewhere here in Thailand to treat my drawer. ( no access to big freezer ).
Paul
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Post by nomad on Sept 29, 2015 18:10:33 GMT
Thanks for the update Paul. That's bad news . Try and tested indeed.
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 4, 2015 7:34:29 GMT
I have checked last night my whole Delias collection which is "Zensect" protected. Everything seems fine.
Now which product can we use in Europe if Zensect is not so efficient ?
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Post by nomad on Oct 4, 2015 9:46:05 GMT
I think we, perhaps especially in Europe should be concerned about the banning of the pest deterrents that we use in our collections. I still use Naphthalene, which is I am afraid according to the scientists and chemists, is a dangerous carcinogen. I suppose those that are fortunate to house their collections in a sealed room or a basement will be O.K but for those like me that live in small town houses or apartments, the use of Naphthalene is not the ideal solution, although most of the fumes are contained in airtight boxes or cabinets, they are indeed opened from time to time. My late mum used Naphthalene moth balls in my pockets of my school coats, how I disliked that smell but at least the other kids smelt like me. How ironic, a moth killer is used to kill moth pests. I guess its okay if you have a large freezer, but I have no space for that.
Well heath and Safety Laws and have banned the use of the Naphthalene in museums, which does not kill museum beetles but certainly deters them and mites hate it. The large museums of course will freeze their drawers but this does not prevent attacks and I have seen a demise of a priceless historic specimen even in a museum without few peers. As for local museums, as they now use nothing and they will not allow or have the time to freeze their collections, so this will see the demise of many valuable collections, such as the G.E. Hyde collection, more on that sorry story later.
Well, so those new Zenzect Moth Proofer balls seemed a god send to us collectors but were they. First we had Piers Vigus experiment where it failed to his kill Museum Beetles larva or the adults. Now we have had Paul's infestation using that product.
Watkins & Doncaster have a high reputation among the British entomological community going back 150 years. I have been using that supplier for over half a century. Selling Zenzect, they state in their catalouge, " Protects your collections with a pleasant lavender fragrance. Kills museum beetle and larvae. One ball is enough for one store box or cabinet drawer and should last for months. The colour changes from orange to white when the ball needs replacing. Tried and tested by us, this is a fantastic alternative to Paradichlorobenzene ". The latter did indeed kill museum beetle and larvae but it could also kill the collector, so it is banned.
So at the AES fair, yesterday, as promised, , I had a chat with the current owner of Watkins and Doncaster Amy. Amy was very surprised to hear of Piers experiments and of Paul's trouble using Zenzect. W & D had tested Zenzect in a drawer with specimens that have larvae of the dermestid Museum ( Carpet ) Beetle and the next day, they had left the specimens and were dead on the drawer bottom. It killed them. So why did Zenzect kill Amy's larvae and not Piers and why did Paul get pests?. Could it be that the effectiveness of Zenzect wears off, before the balls turn white? Amy at W & D in fact knows Piers well, as he is a regular customer, so she is going to email Paul for his findings. Amy sells a lot of Zenzect and as of this moment has no feedback from disappointed customers, I have also sent Piers a mail.
As I and others do not want to lose our valuable specimens, for the moment we must live among it seems toxic fumes??
Peter
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 4, 2015 9:59:06 GMT
Thanks a lot Peter for discussing with Amy. I also agree with Amy, if she has sold a lot of Zensect balls, she would have received a lot of complains if it was ineffective.
It seems not as efficient as PDB though.
I would keep on using them + freezing all entering specimens as it seems to have worked for me.
My Milanese apartment has nearly no dermestids inside so it may be a safe place (I had a lot of problems with dermestids in my Parisian apartment). I have never seen a psocid collection attack in W. Europe. The only time I suffered a psocid attack, it was with a tupperware full of Sulawesian self-caught specimens... I have been stupid enough to mix my self-caught specimens with some specimens I bought to a street dealer of Puncak Palopo... the whole tupperware was infested when I came back from my trip and opened it.
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Post by Paul K on Oct 4, 2015 12:59:22 GMT
Thanks a lot Peter for discussing with Amy. I also agree with Amy, if she has sold a lot of Zensect balls, she would have received a lot of complains if it was ineffective. It seems not as efficient as PDB though. I would keep on using them + freezing all entering specimens as it seems to have worked for me. Olivier Zensect is ineffective. You can agree with Amy who wants to sell it and will stand behind it and other people they are using it with no pest around to test it. I just want to alert people and take in to consideration that their collection isn't safe. What ever one is choosing to prevent infestation it's him decision. I tested it and it did not do the job, so I will be using vapona strips for now until something new and less danger will come on market and can be put for test again. PS. Freezing is good and safe alternative , but the collection must be monitored on regular bases to find a problem at the right time before is too late.
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Post by nomad on Oct 4, 2015 15:02:29 GMT
I agree, Paul's and Pier's information must be taken very seriously, I for one will not use Zenzect, we need more information from other collectors using this product.
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 4, 2015 16:25:13 GMT
You're right, but I don't want to use potential toxic products around my kids. So until Zensect + Freezing work for me, I will keep on using it.
Thanks to those warnings I will check my drawers more regularly and be very cautious about new added specimens.
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Post by deliasfanatic on Oct 4, 2015 16:47:14 GMT
Even using Vapona, I still freeze "suspect" specimens first. Often I'll also place them into a container with an extra-heavy amount of Vapona for a week, then set them or transfer them to the usual bins.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Oct 4, 2015 18:59:33 GMT
I freeze all new arrivals for a couple of weeks before taking them anywhere near my collection, regardless of whether they are papered or spread.
I have actually found more obvious infestations in specimens sent from European dealers than from local dealers in tropical countries, so I treat all of them exactly the same way.
Adam.
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Post by spiderman on Oct 6, 2015 16:43:15 GMT
I still use PDB, but will not be for much longer since I am down to my last tin of a bulk supply that I bought some years ago, now very expensive, even if you can get hold of it, so I too am now looking for an alternative, would be glad to hear of the opinions of others.
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