Re: pest infestation in rug

[Jerry Shiner <keepsafe@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Karin,

I've been following this with interest.

If your client is leery of cleaning the rug, or chemical residues, there is 
always anoxic treatment. The rugs would have to be sealed in a barrier film 
envelope and the oxygen could then be removed chemically or by purging. The 
rugs would have to then be kept at a warm room temperature for at least a 
week or two.

Of course, I would agree that this is a perfect time of year for treatment 
by freezing. The big question is: "how effective will this treatment be?" I 
learned about residual infestation the hard way, as I'm living and working 
in a former fur storage vault. Although the vaults have not been used for 
furs for many years, I still see adult moths appear when the building warms 
up dramatically after a short cold period. I can't be certain, but I think 
the eggs that are hatching may be quite old. I do know that they seem to 
hatch randomly, depending on the temperature changes and not the season.

I lost a few pairs of pants to these webbing moths last year, and I lost 
two large (and expensive) wool rugs to moths a few years ago. I just never 
got round to protecting or treating them. Lord knows, I have the 
materials!  They say the cobbler's children run barefoot through the streets.

If you are interested in learning more about anoxia, let me know. Good luck

js


> >>> karin.vonlerber@xxxxxxxxxx 01/05/01 03:59PM >>>
> I am afraid, that the question I asked was not completely understood: I 
> know of all the different possibilities of eradication, the litarature 
> etc. But my questions is as follows:
> As my client has been keeping the rug for at least two days in the cold 
> now, the insects most probably have started hibernating. The client wishes 
> - for several reasons - a shock-freeze treatment to be done. For how long 
> do I have to re-acclimatize the larvae to room temperature so as to wake 
> all of them up? If they are frozen in the dormant state they are in now, I 
> understand from literature, they will probably survive even -40°C (the 
> temperature I am able to reach with the equipment at hand).
> Does anyone have an answer to this question?
>
> Thanks, Karin von Lerber
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------
> Prevart GmbH
> Konzepte für die Kulturgütererhaltung
> Oberseenerstr. 93
> CH-8405 Winterthur
> Tel. *41 (0)52-233 12 54
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> e-mail: karin.vonlerber@xxxxxxxxxx
> Website: www.prevart.ch

Jerry Shiner
Object & Textile Conservation Services Ltd.   O/A
Keepsafe Systems & Forever Yours Gown Bridal Preservation
Visit www.gowncare.com