Powder post beetle control by freezing/heating?

[jody]

I have always employed the technique of freezing a piece of bamboo in the event that I discover it to be infected with the powder post beetle. I thought I was successful, but now I've read that freezing does not kill the eggs. True?
thanks, jo

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Jo,
Here's a few tidbits gleaned from google (freezing powder post beetles)...

From a Cornell Cooperative Extension fact sheet at...
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/factsheets/pest-fact-sheets/powder-post-beetles.html

"For small items freezing or heating may offer a possible solution. CAUTION: Heating or freezing may have detrimental effects on some finishes. Placing small items in a deep freeze for 4 days or longer should kill larvae and eggs. A refrigerator freezer does not get the temperature low enough to give control. Heating in an oven until the internal temperatures reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 oC) and keeping them at this temperature for 30 minutes also will control eggs and larvae."
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From an article by George E. Lippert
Extension Entomologist
Powder Post Beetles & Furniture Beetles
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/ENTML2/MF1125.PDF

"Powder post beetles may be killed by freezing at 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 oC to -9 oC) for 72 hours. Some exterminators claim better control if the object is warmed up after freezing and then frozen again."
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From... PEST TALK
A Newsletter of the Indian Pest Control Association (November 2001)
http://www.ipca-india.org/pestalk8.html

"Other Methods are:
1. Freezing at -20°C (-4 oF) for 7 days, to kill all stages of insect infestation. For books, textiles, etc., use an industrial freezer after bagging the commodity, leaving it outside for one day before opening.
2. Heating at 52°C ( 125 oF) for 4 hours, to kill all stages of insects or keep the article in a black plastic bag for one day, in the sun."
****************
Mark

[jody]

Mark,
Nice work! A definitve answer. I had arbitrarily subjected my infected bamboo to a freezer for a period of 24 hours- not enough. I will now do it for at least 72 hours- with a major freezer.
As a compulsive bamboo artisan, I cannot thank you enough. It is extremely disappointing to see a finished piece exhibit the tell tale signs of infection- holes and powder/dust. This has been a most vexing dilemma. Either the freezing was not effective, or the piece was actually re-infected- a seemingly unlikely event-especially with interior designs. Now I know it was the former. Thanks again for this enlightening disclosure, and your investigative research, ............Jo