My wife called me to tell me I "had a problem with some of my african suff". When I got back in the country this weekend I took a look at it. It appears something bored out of the wood masks that I brought home 2 years ago. A dozen nice little cone piles of sawdust with a hole in the middle. The masks were laying on a table on top of an ostrich hide. The hide also appears damaged. Needles to say it is time to poison everything in the house. No sign of the actual culprits themselves which I not only find odd but also highly disturbing. I will bomb the house and treat all the mounts and curios with Lorsban for good measure. The masks and hide are history. I am just surprised 2 years after the fact. Just goes to show why we cant be too carefull bringing stuff back.

now just in case we should really be carful i recommend lighting a candle up stairs

and opening a 200 pound container or propane and oxygen

i wouldnt stand with in a lest a 5 block radius of your house......that should kill those bugs good.

Yes it would but I think the insurance people might find it a bit odd to find me sitting there with all my taxidermy and firearms dont you? You know I would have to remove the things I value the most first. You must get the Canuck version of Mythbusters at your place eh?

In all seriousness this does have me upset. I would have never expected a problem after this much time. I know in the future, any wood products I bring back are going to be taken out to the workshop and sprayed thoroughly with Lorsban. The other option is to just have them treated and shipped along with the trophies. I have been bringing stuff back since 1974 with never a problem until now. Guess I cant say that anymore. All I know is it is a lot of work to guarantee no further problems.

Just a thought, but I've brought wood from Africa and put it in the freezer for 10 days or so. If you use freight, I understand that the shipment usually gets a bromine gas treatment that for sure does the little critters in.
Regards, Tim

Mike,

I had the same problem with my African Masks, Freaked me out especially since I was living in a log home at the time. I tossed them in the Microwave for about 30 seconds. and that seemed to bake them pretty good. The oven up around 300 would do the same. It is a little maggot that bores into the wood, and then will become an adult.

Definitely a little worm type thing. My parents collect African art and the same thing appened to them with some of their wood artifacts. I will see what they did about it and let you know.

Put the masks in a freezer for a few weeks that will kill the bugs.

Thanks guys. These particualr masks were not of any real value so were not a big loss. They were just the typical tourist stuff. It just still amazes me that the little buggers took two years to mature and bore out through the wood. So are you guys telling me I dont have to worry about further infestation from these things?

Someone let us all know what we need to do with wooden masks, figurines, etc, since for me putting them all in a freezer isn't practical. Is there some sort of a spray that can be purchased to treat them with? What is Lorsban and where do you purchase it and how is it applied?

A chest deep freeze will solve the problems. If not, then you will need a chemical insect killer. I use the deep freeze everytime.

I have a lifetime supply of Lorsban. It is a powdered or liquid insectacide used in agriculture and the trade. I dont know if you can get it without a liscense. You mix it with water in a pump sprayer at the desired concentration. Without looking it up I think it was 15gm/4L for taxidermy but dont quote me on that without verifying the dosage. Spray your stuff outside and let it dry. It will not damage anything and will have a not unpleasant sort of peppery smell when dried. Keep it away from your animals when in use. It is hard on the liver of pets. Also dont spray it on anything they might chew on. Maybe Jerry or someone else can give some more information.

If you can't get it without a license, then what is the alternative, besides a chest freezer, that anyone knows of? I would think that a lot of AR members would be interested in this one since most of us have brought home wooden objects, masks, figurines, etc. etc.

All wood products from Africa are inspected coming into Australia and I have seen quite a few confiscated or sent for treatment (expensive). Apparently Australia is free of certain of the African wood borers but they could become established here.

I would be watching other wood items near where the masks etc were stored.

mike