[NHCOLL-L:5434] RE: permanent storage of insect genatalia

[Poly, William]

Good information can be found in Levi, H.W. (1966) The care of alcoholic collections of small invertebrates.  Systematic Zoology 15(3): 183-188, including info. on various types of stoppers.  Levi (1966, p. 186) recommends not adding glycerin:  "Glycerin, however, often added, is not recommended.  First, it is messy to handle the specimens, and the remaining glycerin from spilled alcohol is hygroscopic and thus may damage microscopes.  Furthermore, if the alcohol in the vials evaporates, the glycerin concentration increases to the point of clearing the specimens.  Worse, while evaporation of pure alcohol leaves a dried-up specimen, evaporation of alcohol from a glycerin mixture leaves a glycerin-water medium that encourages growth of mold and destruction of the specimen.  Perhaps less than 1% addition is safe, but I have my doubts."

I agree that it is messy working with specimens in alcohol-glycerin and am not sure how the glycerin might interfere with preparation of specimens for SEM.  Addition of glycerin likely was helpful in the past but with improved jar closures/seals, it's probably not needed now.

Bill


________________________________
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of John Grehan [jgrehan at sciencebuff.org]
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 12:09 PM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5433] RE: permanent storage of insect genatalia

Safest for permanence might be slide mounts in Canada balsam. But if you are going with liquid preservation at least include some glycerine so they do not dry out completely (although I think there may be some issues with that but others may know more) should the stoppers fail (which they will at some point if the vials are not stored in a larger container), and also if in vials, store the vials upside down in a larger container with the same preservative (easier to top up and less likely to have total loss of fluids in the vials).

John Grehan

________________________________
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Mary Sollows
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 10:21 AM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5431] permanent storage of insect genatalia


I would like some archival advice on choosing micro vials for permanent storage of insect genitalia.  Please comment on the pros and cons of: a. Glass Micro Vials with Silicone Stoppers, b. Polyethylene Micro Vials with Silicone Stoppers and c. Polyethylene Micro Vials with Neoprene Stoppers.  I welcome other suggestions for permanent storage.

Thanks,
Mary

Mary Sollows, M.Sc.
Curatorial Assistant: Zoology /Adjointe à la conservation des collections zoologiques
Natural Sciences Department / Département de sciences naturelles
New Brunswick Museum / Musée du Nouveau-Brunswick
277 Douglas Ave.
Saint John, New Brunswick
Canada  E2K 1E5

Mary.Sollows at nbm-mnb.ca<mailto:Mary.Sollows at nbm-mnb.ca>
tel: (506) 643-2365
fax: (506) 643-2360

http://www.nbm-mnb.ca/

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