drying in humid conditions results so far

[Liz Day]

So far, the method of putting the specimens in the back seat of the car 
parked in the sun seems to be working.  (Temp ~125F, humidity ~25-30%. Is 
like a drying oven.)
The one reservation I have is that the wings seemed to wrinkle a little 
along the veins; I don't know if this is from drying too fast or if it is 
normal.   (Anyone?)


Am also hanging a 60-watt lightbulb inside a 36"x20x20" cardboard 
box.  This seems to provide slower but still adequate drying, although it 
is less effective when the humidity of the surrounding room is 
high.   Would work well in an airconditioned office.  Temp 90-100F, 
humidity ~40-45%.

AVOID - It should have been obvious, but don't store specimens in a 
frost-free freezer unless their container is completely closed - they dry 
out!   Moths from a closed container relaxed in two days; moths from a 
container that had a tiny hole in the top are still stiff after 4 
days.  All were in the freezer 9 months.

Cheers,
Liz

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Liz Day
Indianapolis, Indiana, central USA  (40 N, ~86 W)
Home of budgerigar Tweeter and the beautiful pink inchworm (Eupithecia 
miserulata).
USDA zone 5b.  Winters ~20F, summers ~85F.  Formerly temperate deciduous 
forest.
daylight at kiva.net
www.kiva.net/~daylight
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