FLYMPH FORUM

Moths! I couldn't figure out where all the moths were coming from that were invading my closets. And I just found out. They are coming form one of the drawers where I keep my feather capes. I'll I see is $$$$$$$ in the trash. Mothballs. what?

ENOZ Moth Ice (paradichlorobenzene) from Wal-Mart; each cape/neck/saddle in its own Zip-Loc (or equal) bag with a dab of the stuff.

and do not forget to leave some air in the bag.........or it won't work......as well.

I have spent days looking for that Moth Ice. I finally gave up and had to mail order it. Nobody sells that stuff around here. Can you just put it in a plastic box, and pop a few holes in it like you can moth balls? I need to put moth ice in about 3-4 boxes.

You can use it like mothballs ( napthalene) but it only works properly if it and the materials you want to safeguard are in an airtight box. You have to be careful with some plastic as the chemical attacks the plastic. You can put it in small muslin or similar cloth bags and that works OK.

TL
MC

By the way, I use the original "ziploc" bags for my stuff;

http://www.ziploc.com/Pages/Bags.aspx

I have found some other stuff is not airtight, and of inferior quality. Some bugs will eat through plastic bags and poor quality bags are more prone to such damage. I put my material in these bags, with a few crystals in the bottom, and I then put the bags in airtight plastic boxes.

I mainly use Curver boxes;
http://www.curver.com/cur/univers/kitchen/3

but this type of box is available from lots of manufacturers. Tupperware etc;

http://order.tupperware.com/coe-html/we ... orage.html

Wooden boxes, drawers, etc are no use for storing fly-dressing materials, as bugs can get in too easily.

TL
MC

Mike Connor wrote:
Wooden boxes, drawers, etc are no use for storing fly-dressing materials, as bugs can get in too easily.

TL
MC

Need to review my storing system!

Martin

I have a few of these for big stuff like whole bird skins etc. ;

http://www.curver.com/cur/products/jumboline/24

these can be stacked as well.

I got them very cheaply at a local supermarket. You need to look around as prices vary considerably.

Tl
MC

Should you use crystals for all material?

I keep all my materials in zip bags (the kind you get your Whiting hackle in) and have them in drawers (one drawer for wings, one for dubbing skins and so on).
Not sufficient would you say?

Cheers
Martin Worried Stendalen

Personally I would not rely on it. I have had bugs eat through the Whiting bags, in fact I have a picture somewhere of carpet bugs in such a bag and the holes they made to get in.

This is one of those things where you have to decide on the risk yourself. Some people may go a lifetime without being bothered by various bugs in their materials, others get attacked all the time. Depends where you live, what sort of exposure is extant, etc. I prefer to take no chances as my collection is large and valuable, and I have seen the devastation these pests can wreak.

I use napthalene in all my materials storage boxes. I don't think there is any need to add crystals to every bag if you do this. Just keep the bags in the box.

TL
MC