Smallish specimen pinning/spreading question

[1_iron]

Hey. Don't you guys lose a lot of legs doing this?
Jim Taylor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX" <Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca>
To: <stanlep at extremezone.com>; <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 9:58 AM
Subject: RE: Smallish specimen pinning/spreading question


> Given the size of my dainty little digits, I am able to do the thorax
> pinching and consequent wing opening with my thumb and forfinger on things
> the size of eryphon and even blues, altho I have not yet had the courage
to
> try this on really teeny things like Brephidium :-)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stanley A. Gorodenski [mailto:stanlep at extremezone.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 4:49 PM
> To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: Smallish specimen pinning/spreading question
>
>
> This may not be proper, but when wings are difficult to open, I pinch
> the thorax with curved butterfly forceps.  As I said, it may not be
> proper, and it may do damage I am unaware of, but it works for me.
> Stan
>
> Terry Morse wrote:
> >
> > I am a beginner at pinning and spreading
> > butterflies.  I am trying to pin/spread a
> > moderately small lep, a Western Pine Elfin
> > (Callophrys eryphon).  The insect died with its
> > wings in full upright position to the extent that
> > I can't see the thorax well enough to properly
> > insert the pin.  I've had it in a relaxing chamber
> > for 24 hours ( is that sufficient? I had left the
> > specimen in the killing jar for the preceding 24
> > hours), but am unable to get the wings to stay
> > spread enough on their own for me to place the
> > pin.  It's a bit of a catch-22: To spread the
> > specimen, I need to pin it; but to pin it, I need
> > to spread the specimen.
> >
> > Can anyone suggest how I can get the wings spread
> > enough (I only have two hands) that I can see to
> > place the pin?  I've tried placing the specimen on
> > a slightly rough surface and using butterfly
> > forceps to spread the wings with one hand while I
> > pin it with the other hand, but the specimen keeps
> > sliding forward.  I've tried putting a pin in
> > front of the specimen as a stop, but it just
> > slides past the stop.
> >
> > My other elfin was kind enough to die with its
> > wings down, so it was easy to pin that one.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Terry
>
>
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