Re: Insekt infestation

["Valerie Blyth" <valblyth@xxxxxxxxx>]

I would urge you to freeze the carpets at -30 degrees for at least 92 hours to rid your carpets of either moth larvae or carpet beetle larvae. The carpets should be wrapped in tissue then polythene  with a double seal and strong tape. Leave for at least 24 hours after removal from the freezer before handling. When re checking vacuum off all insect debris and re roll for storing. 
if you can read the postprints of the UKIC Furniture section conference Museum of London 18th November 1996 and the proceedings of the 3rd Nordic \Symposium on Insect Pest Control in Museums September 1998.

>>> "Karin von Lerber, Prevart GmbH" <karin.vonlerber@xxxxxxxxxx> 01/05 1:35 pm >>>
Dear colleagues,
I will within some hours recieve two Usebkan felt carpets with some type of textile "worms" eating their way. I intend to freeze them, but there is a mayor problem:
When the client detected the damage, he put the two carpets out on his balcony before contacting a museum which refered him to me. In Switzerland, the temperatures are now around zero °C and slightly below. I am worried, that the insect larvae have now started to hibernate and will not be killed by freezing. Can anybody help me *quickly* on how safely to proceede? For how long will I have to warm the carpets up again at room temperature (of course tightly packed in plastic...) to make sure the larvae start eating and thriving again before shock freezing them? Is there something else to be worried about with this "detour" to the regular treatment?

Thanks for any help! Sincerely, Karin von Lerber


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