<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">I second Andy's recommendation of the polyester fiber plugs. They are far easier to work with and rarely come out of the vials if inserted correctly. Compressible stoppers, soft flexible lids, and rigid lids will all fail over time.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">--John</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">John E. Simmons<br>Writer and Museum Consultant</span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Museologica<br><i>and</i><br>Associate Curator of Collections<br>Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery<br>Penn State University<br><i>and</i><br>Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia<br>Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima</span></font><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Nov 17, 2021 at 5:58 PM Bentley, Andrew Charles <<a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu">abentley@ku.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tonya<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here at KU, out entomology division is doing similar by placing vials into larger jars for more efficient storage. However, instead of using caps, they are using polyester batting to stopper each vial which has the advantage of allowing
alcohol exchange between each individual vial and the surrounding alcohol in the jar. A small wad of the batting inserted into the top of the vial provides a good barrier -
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairfield-Poly-Premium-Fiber-32-Ounce/dp/B004ALQ0M2" target="_blank">
https://www.amazon.com/Fairfield-Poly-Premium-Fiber-32-Ounce/dp/B004ALQ0M2</a>. The material is not affected by alcohol and does not break down.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can send images if it would help<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Andy<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> A : A : A :<br>
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°><br>
V V V<br>
Andy Bentley<br>
Ichthyology Collection Manager<br>
University of Kansas<br>
Biodiversity Institute<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Dyche Hall<br>
<a><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">1345 Jayhawk Boulevard</span></a><br>
<a><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561</span></a><br>
<a><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">USA</span></a><br>
<br>
Tel: <a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-3863" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">(785) 864-3863</span></a><br>
Fax: <a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-5335" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">(785) 864-5335</span></a> <br>
Email: <a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">abentley@ku.edu</span></a> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ORCID: <span style="color:rgb(73,74,76);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%"><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu</span></a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> A : A : A :<br>
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°><br>
V V V<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Nhcoll-l <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>> <b>
On Behalf Of </b>Simon Moore<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 17, 2021 4:50 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace) <<a href="mailto:Tonya.Haff@csiro.au" target="_blank">Tonya.Haff@csiro.au</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> NHCOLL-new <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] vials for storing insects in ETOH<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Tonya,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When I was last doing this kind of work (about 20 years ago) I used nylon ribbed caps and these were inserted (inverted) into larger jars. When I last looked at them (one year ago) they were still holding up well with no noticeable evaporation.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">With all good wishes, Simon<br>
<br>
Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR<br>
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,</span><br>
<br>
<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.natural-history-conservation.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cabentley%40ku.edu%7Cc6cd1d6e50154069406308d9aa1cbb5d%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C637727863231213644%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=ctraOG5JSiI%2F62qwryxe4JSTZvzbQ71jcalxszp2fgg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">www.natural-history-conservation.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<img style="width: 2.5in; height: 1.0416in;" id="gmail-m_7538831275460920712_x0037_C032C9D-DDEA-4FD2-985C-BAB6A9DA1B4B" src="cid:17d30212dd84cff311" width="240" height="100" border="0"><img style="width: 4.1041in; height: 0.9375in;" id="gmail-m_7538831275460920712F040B8D0-AB75-4183-AB2C-56B413A2AF91" src="cid:17d30212dd95b006a2" width="394" height="90" border="0"><u></u><u></u></p>
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<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 17 Nov 2021, at 22:32, Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace) <<a href="mailto:Tonya.Haff@csiro.au" target="_blank">Tonya.Haff@csiro.au</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
Hello all,<br>
<br>
We are planning on rehousing our collection of vertebrate parasites in ETOH (a range of invertebrate taxa) before we move to our new building in a few years. The goal is to: a) make the specimens safer from accidental dehydration; and b) save space and alcohol
volume. The collection is currently housed in McCartney vials. They are good but do eventually fail, and dry out rapidly when they do. In addition, there are many specimens that could be housed in much smaller containers, which would save lots of space, if
it were appropriate to do so.<br>
<br>
Our plan is to move specimens and labels into smaller vials, filled with alcohol, and then to place those smaller vials into 2L jars topped with ETOH. Jars would be organised taxonomically and with a large label inside the jar so specimens will still be easy
to find (though it will probably be annoying to have to go through the whole jar but hey ho). But we think this solution offers greater storage/space potential and should allow us so safely preserve smaller specimens in smaller vials, without the risk of dehydration. <br>
<br>
My question regards vial tops. Right now we are planning on using LDPE push top lids (into soda glass vials). I think this should be fine, but I just wanted to collect the collective mind to see if anyone had any thoughts on this to offer? It's the lids that
I am wondering about. The only alternative I can think of is to use cotton stoppers instead, but I worry that cotton is too 'catchy' for invertebrates and might lead to damage. We could get screw top lids, but they are wadded and I am not sure what the lid
material is (but it is black so maybe Bakelite?).<br>
<br>
The specimens will be housed in a climate-controlled vault at 18C and 50% rH, so I think there shouldn't be any issues of lids popping out because of temperature changes, etc (though that thought does make me feel nervous I admit).<br>
<br>
Thanks in advance and apologies for the very long email!<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
Tonya<br>
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