Damage due to UV

[Cris Guppy & Aud Fischer]

If the butterflies are in drawers within cabinets, they should be well
protected unless there is no door on the cabinet AND sunlight shines
directly on the front of the cabinets. Butterflies in display cases hung on
walls, etc. will generally fade with time. The stronger the light, the
faster they will fade.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mothman617 <mothman617 at aol.com>
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Date: September 6, 1999 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: Damage due to UV


>I did hear once that it is primarily the UV rays in sunlight that can
damage
>specimens. Moths are most likely to be damaged. Butterflies can stand up
fairly
>well in my experience, but moths such as Saturnids especially, can be
destroyed
>within a few months as thier pigments fade rapidly. UV rays can damage many
>things besides lepidoptera. Plastics, paper, rubber, textiles, fabrics and
>other materials can easily fade from direct sunlight over time.Our own skin
>when we get  a suntan can do serious damage over years of exposure. Try to
keep
>all specimens out of direct sunlight. Artificial light I doubt effects the
>pigments
>
>