Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/08/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]"C.L.Zeni" wrote: > At 09:19 PM 8/21/2001, you wrote: > >Browsing through a 1969 edition of "The Leica & Leicaflex Way" by Andrew > >Matheson (Focal Press) I read (on page 299): > >"Use adequate precautions when processing film in hot climates and keep even > >developed films well protected against insects and other creatures. > >Film-eating insects, incidentally, are not confined to the tropics; they are > >just as abundant in the short summer in certain Arctic countries such as > >Alaska and Greenland." > >Is there an entomologist in the house? What insects eat film? > >Oliver Bryk > > I forwarded this message to my friend Dr. J.W. Smith, entomologist with the > United States Dept of Agriculture. His reply: > > begin quote > Subject: Re: [Leica] OT: Film-eating insects? > > I've never heard of such a thing -- not to say it can't exist -- because the > drugstore beetle can eat poisons that would kill most humans. Bet it's > either a beetle or a bark louse. > > end quote > > That's one bug man's take on it... > > -- > Craig Zeni - I thought the film emulsion was based on gelatine. I can imagine quite a few bugs would eat that. I think your friend was considering the whole thing, base and all. I doubt if any insect would eat the base. What is it? some sort of polyester? (I know, the Kodak site will tell someone the answer to this ;-) Dennis