working with specimens

[Hugh McGuinness]

Hi All,

I am in the middle of a survey of the moth fauna at a Long Island (NY)
County Park for the Nature Conservancy, and I have a few questions
regarding handling and spreading of specimens. I am using bucket black
light traps with ethyl acetate and  "No-pest" strips as the killing agent.
I eliminate much of the beetle damage by placing a cup directly under the
opening into which the majority of the heavy-bodied beetles fall. My
questions pertain to spreading the moths, at which I am a relative novice.

1. Although I am not spreading all the specimens it takes me about a week
after the sampling date to spread all that I want to spread. (This week I
caught some 500+ moths) I store the moths in the ethyl acetate jars until
I am ready to work with them as this seems to keep them moist and prevents
mold and bacteria. I pin them and then put them in a relaxing box, which
is charged with water and moth balls, for one day and I spread them. I
have noticed that by the 4th day something akin to rigor mortis has set in
and it is difficult to spread the forewing because it pulls back down
along the body. I often have to move the wing into place 5 or more times
before it will stay put and this often damages the wing slightly with a
hole or small tear. Putting the moths in the relaxing box for a longer
period doesn't seem to help.  Does anybody have any advice on how to avoid
this problem (other than staying up for two days to spread the entire
sample as soon as I get back from the field)?

2. I am impressed with how difficult it is to get a good-looking specimen.
Does anybody have any tips for minimizing damage?

3. Does anyone have any opinion on using stainless steel versus regular
insect pins (especially if cost is not a factor)?

Please reply to sender, unless you feel your post is of general interest
to the entire list. Thanks.

hugh

Hugh McGuinness
The Ross School
18 Goodfriend Park
East Hampton, NY 11937
hmcguinness at ross.org
631-907-5229
http://mail.ross.org/~hmcguinness


 
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