Dried Specimens

[Ron Gatrelle]

----- Original Message -----
From: "gwang" <gwang at mb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: Dried Specimens


> Hi all,
>
> Since we all seem to be on the topic of drying/dried specimens these
> days, I was wondering how others out there keep the wings of their
> already dried specimens from warping.  When my specimens come off the
> pinning board their wings are perfectly straight, but invariably, after
> some time, some of the specimens' wings start to warp.  I put hydrates
> in with all of my specimens to adsorb (no that's not a typo, it really
> is the correct term, as opposed to absorb) any moisture in the air, but
> it doesn't seem to be working out as I has anticipated. Perhaps I'm
> taking my specimens off the pinning board a bit to early so that they
> are actually still in the process of drying when I place them in the
> specimen drawers?  Could this have caused the warping?
>
> Peace,
> Xi Wang

When I have the same problem I attribute it to taking specimens off the
setting board too soon. I know a couple guys who leave stuff on the boards
for two weeks. I'm just too impatient, I guess. A couple days and off they
come. I use no adsorb materials. and no pesticides in my Cal. Academy
drawers. I do use some pesticides in my small Red Wood boxes were I have a
lot of my small stuff.

We collectors all know the care needed with Styrofoam bottoms - what
pesticides do ya'll use in yours. I really like PDB but it can't be used
there as it will melt the Styrofoam. I do not like to handle no pest
strips. I occasionally spray Raid on the inside of the lid of a Red Wood
box and it seems to work.  I once sprayed Raid directly on specimens that
had book lice get into them and it dried without damaging the specimens.
Ron


 
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