Pickle fork

[Kenelm Philip]

	Thomas LeBlanc inquires about the use of the 'pickle fork' as
mentioned in Winter's _Basic Techniques...._ (on page 240). The actual
use of that device is described on page 159.

	LeBlanc asks: " does the pickle fork go into the envelope or removed
before it is placed into the envelope?  Does the pickle fork start by going
over the thorax and up the wing or how does one use it?  Finally, would one
use the pickle fork with live butterflies or only dead ones?"

	As is made clear on page 159, the pickle fork is inserted into the
dorsal side of the thorax while the wings are closed under the specimen.The
pickle fork is then used to hold the butterfly while the wings are
reversed over the back and held thus with forceps.  Once the wings are
up over the back, the fork can be removed--and the specimen is then inserted
in the envelope with the forceps. This may be done whether or not the
butterflies are dead, stunned, or alive--but you would not do this with
specimens you intend to _keep_ alive (as for breeding).

	In practice, I have found that if you act promptly enough, small
butterflies (Lycaenids) can often be 'reversed' without any need for
anything other than forceps. I put the specimen on my leg, insert the
forceps between the wings and open them, use my fingers to hold the wings
open and use the forceps to grasp the ventral thorax and pull the spec-
imen up between the fingers. The wings will 'snap' into the over-the-
back position.

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at uaf.edu




 
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