[NHCOLL-L:5140] Re: white crystals appearing on specimens in fluid, any ideas?

[Steve Halford]

Heather,

I've seen similar deposits on specimens stored in 10% formalin, and
have attributed it to the formalin coming out of solution as
paraformaldehyde.  I haven't had any cases since we switched to 70%
ETOH as our storage solution (about 20 years ago.)

Steve.

-- 
Steve Halford (halford at sfu.ca)
Museum Technician
Department of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C. Canada               Phone
V5A 1S6                                  778-782-3461


On Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Heather Campbell
<hcampbell-melvin at amnh.org> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> While rehousing the bee wet collection I have noticed that some vials
> contain specimens that have white material growing (?) on them.  Here are
> a few details that may be important when considering a diagnosis:
> 1. Only vials containing larvae (maybe pupae) are affected
> 2. Different species and different years (but always older than 5yrs) and
> different locals
> 3. Preservative used: Kahle's sol
>                       acetic acid (glacial) 10%
>                       formalin (37%)        10%
>                       water                 25%
>                       Ethanol (75%)         55%
> 4. Easily scraped away and has a plaque-like resemblance
> 5. no visible damage done to specimen (naked eye)
>
> I have pictures but am unable to send due to limits on message size.  I
> will be happy to send these along to anyone who is interested.
>
> Thank you
>
> Heather M. Campbell
> Bee Curatorial Assistant
> Division of Invertebrate Zoology
> American Museum of Natural History
> Central Park West @ 79th st.
> New York, NY 10024-5192
> 212-496-3447
>
>
> Heather M. Campbell
> Bee Curatorial Assistant
> Division of Invertebrate Zoology
> American Museum of Natural History
> Central Park West @ 79th st.
> New York, NY 10024-5192
> 212-496-3447
>
>