Dear Dennis, Yes, once in a while I have found critters on plant material donations. The materials really need to be destroyed - burned - or in the case of your seeds, thrown out, since your critters came from your backyard, so to speak. We certainly do not want the seed sent to other countries. It would reflect very badly on seed exchanges in general if the governments found out that we were distributing contaminated seed. Especially since we are facing possible harsher restrictions on the exchange of plant materials, we must be scrupulously careful. On the same note, I have occasionally received donations of bulbs which turned out to be infected with mealy bugs. The bugs were probably not evident when the bulbs were sent, but appeared while the bulbs were in transit. It is very important that we all learn how to recognize the signs of infestations, and take proper measures to eliminate them, rather than spread them, inadvertantly, to other plant collectors. For instance, Lachenalias are particularly susceptible to mealy, and early signs include distorted leaf growth and eventually white deposits on the leaves, often well before any bugs are visible. The mealies live and feed inside the bulbs and usually appear after the infestation becomes severe. Mealies can spread virus as well as debilitating bulbs through their feeding. Drenching the bulbs in a systemic insecticide is effective if you don't mind using chemicals. A strong solution of Murphy's oil soap sometimes works on mild infestations. Perhaps others can suggest measures that would sterilize seeds as a precaution against surprise infestations like the one you have experienced. Best wishes, Dell Dennis wrote: >How can I be sure if there are no more beetles? I'd hate to have these sent abroad and introduce an unwanted pest somewhere far away (California, Canada, South Africa, etc.). Any suggestions? Dell, have you ever sorted through donations only to find them "contaminated" with hitchhikers? Dennis in Cincy _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php