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Post by nomad on Oct 7, 2015 18:55:40 GMT
It seems our American friends still use Vapona, but I am not sure where they get their large chunks from. Naphthalene is a very good deterrent but does not kill Museum beetle and larvae like the more deadly Paradichlorobenzene. Naphthalene may soon be banned from sale in the U.K? Then we have Zensect which so far... seems to work for some and not for others.
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Post by deliasfanatic on Oct 7, 2015 19:00:48 GMT
Curiosity aroused, I Googled "no pest strip" to see what turned up online. This would be the large-sized strips, such as I used to buy and cut up in years past. One brand is prevalent: "Hot Shot". I see that someone in Michigan is selling 3-packs on Ebay and offers worldwide shipping, but whether other countries' customs would allow it to enter, I have no clue. I note that Amazon sells it with the provision that it's only available to ship to the lower 48 states.
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Post by Paul K on Oct 7, 2015 23:01:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 0:54:02 GMT
I still use only Naphthalene, but it is exceedingly difficult to obtain in any quantity now... "Based on these results from animal studies, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded that naphthalene is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that naphthalene is possibly carcinogenic to humans, because there is enough evidence that naphthalene causes cancer in animals, but not enough evidence about such an effect in humans. Under the EPA 1986 cancer guidelines, naphthalene was assigned to Group C - possible human carcinogen" Reasonably anticipated; possibly; not enough evidence; possible human carcinogen... This all sounds like a 'better to be safe than sorry' policy Until recently i could buy 350g containers (see pic) of granulated Naphthalene for Aussie Dollars 5.50 at most stores... Now it has disappeared from all our main ones... I will have to take a trip out to the back of beyond and check all the rural stores I find...
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Post by nomad on Oct 29, 2015 19:18:02 GMT
Interesting Baz. I recently ordered some naphthalene and instead of large marbled size moth balls, that was placed in our coat pockets when I was a boy, I got two bags of pea sized ones. Seriously though, will insect collecting decline in the future when dangerous substances such as naphthalene are banned. Will people still collect insects when no one is able to protect their collections. Yes, I know there is the freezer but are collectors going to wait until there is a out break of dermestids before they place their specimens there, or remember to keep up the freezing to stop one happening in their busy world. I know ebay has never been more busy, but will future generations have nothing to protect their specimens. Food for thought.
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Post by Paul K on Oct 30, 2015 10:08:03 GMT
What about hermetic drawers? I know it sounds impossible but what if.... We could drill small hole in drawer and then pack in the clear bag and suck out all the air from inside. Without air inside drawer there would be no live possible - no pests. Humidity should be no problem as well. No air. In case we would have to open the drawer just cut the film and open and then seal again. The only issue I see with the transparency of the bag. It should be as perfect as glass so viewing is not disturb by film covering the top. My question is if it would be technically possible to achieve 100% air free environment inside.
Paul
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Post by cabintom on Oct 30, 2015 10:57:24 GMT
What about hermetic drawers? I'd worry about what would happen to specimens when air rushes back into the drawer.
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Post by Paul K on Oct 30, 2015 11:59:46 GMT
I guess not much would happen as the air would go slowly thru the vent or velve some sort or little hole. I am worry more when the air would be pumped out. But hard shell of drawer should prevent to collapse when different pressures are out and in . It would be the same as the light bulb I guess some trials should be done before use. This we are talking about keeping insects in 22 century or are we ?
How about replacing breathable air to carbon dioxide ? Slowly pump one side in poisonous gas and let the air go out thru another. The pressure would stay about the same then. The drawer would must stay hermetic in this case also . Then again we are talking about poison inside but less harmful as the chemicals we use now.
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Post by nomad on Oct 30, 2015 17:56:11 GMT
Interesting ideas Paul but do not forget you need easy access to your specimens, my lids or always coming off. The more technical you make a hobby, the more people are going to refrain from enjoying or starting it in the first place. For now I guess most collectors will get those toxic products while they can but then what when they are no longer available what then.
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Post by Paul K on Oct 31, 2015 2:38:30 GMT
Peter That's not good for you when you open drawers too often. You breath more poisonous vapours every time you play with leps. I only open when really need , besides I am always worry when lid off and specimens are exposed to the outside world.
Paul
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Post by nomad on Oct 31, 2015 8:25:19 GMT
Paul I am arranging my collection, which needs to be done sometimes. Otherwise I view them tightly sealed. What I meant was as your collection is constantly being added too, those lids have to come off from time to time. I suppose its different for those that have drawers -boxes that are complete but I am afraid I am far away from those happy times.
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Post by Paul K on Oct 31, 2015 8:33:11 GMT
Paul I am arranging my collection, which needs to be done sometimes. Otherwise I view them tightly sealed. What I meant was as your collection is constantly being added too, those lids have to come off from time to time. I suppose its different for those that have drawers -boxes that are complete but I am afraid I am far away from those happy times. When everything is finished and completed what will we do then ?
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Post by nomad on Oct 31, 2015 8:48:41 GMT
Gosh Paul, I never see a situation where my collection will be finished. Take Delias, just collecting those will fulfill the rest of my collecting days. There are so many species, many are super rare and I like most collectors I have a limited supply of money. Another thing is that a number of species occur in the mountains of Papua where no one is collecting because it is just too dangerous and I just cannot get them and perhaps I never will. So I never envisage a time when my collection will be complete. From time to time I also collect Palearctic Lycaenidae. So many happy days ahead.
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Post by poisonarrow on Dec 30, 2015 17:28:28 GMT
Hi all, I am using a product, which is green moth paper, which also jkills dermestids. I haven't been to Germany in the last two years, but it was easily available in the drug stores (DM markets). It's a Nexalotte product. www.amazon.de/Nexa-Lotte-Mottenschutz-Doppelpackung/dp/B0019HH4NYI am normally overdosing it, cut the long strips into single sheets, roll these, and stick them into the box. This has killed exisiting Dermestid infestations, and so far was very successful. The fact that is is sold openly, and for cloth drawers makes me think that it is quite safe. Have been using this for more than 8 years now and never had any infestation. That said, since my main collection is in Germany, I also almost never open my boxes. Best regards Ben PS: attaching a pic of one of my boxes, you can see the strip in the bottom of the box. And yes, this is just one of my holding boxes, until I have enough species from a country/family to open a new box, hence the Madgascar-India mix-up.
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Post by wollastoni on Dec 30, 2015 22:47:37 GMT
Thanks a lot Ben, I will try this as I am looking for an alternative to Zensect.
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