Abstract
Pyrethrins, the active ingredients of the insecticide pyrethrum, are very effective in killing insects but are quite harmless to mammals. When combined with silica gel to form Drione powder, they can be applied inside herbarium cases for long-term protection against insects. Preliminary tests at the New York Botanical Garden have shown that Drione powder or aerosol spray readily kills anobiid beetles. Drione has potential as a safer alternative to dangerous chemicals that have been used in the past.
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Schofield, E.K., Crisafulli, S. A safer insecticide for herbarium use. Brittonia 32, 58–62 (1980). https://doi.org/10.2307/2806221
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2806221