working with specimens

[Rob Vandermoor]

 Hugh, there "appears" to be  a straight forward  solution to your concerns however past posts similar in nature to this indicate it can be rather complicated and extremely subjective. First I don't know how much experience you have setting specimens but there are a raft of idiosyncrasies to be considered in order to get specimens spread fast, spread well and without damage. There are to many to go into right now but I know there are at least a couple of Internet sites that have some good basic setting instructions.
 500 moths or butterflies is a lot to spread over a short period of time no matter what your experience is. To give you some valuable added time what I do and would suggest you at least try is to divide your specimens into equal quantities that are suitable for a days period of setting; I like to have all my specimens in glassine envelopes. Take all your days worth of specimens (in envelopes) and put these in a zip lock bags with a well moistened- wet portion of paper towel in each bag, now put these bags in the fridge (not the freezer), especially if you specimens are still alive they will stay alive in the fridge for up to several weeks.
 When  you are ready to set simply take a bag from the fridge and begin. The freshly killed specimens done in this way should be as or almost as pliable as if they were still alive.
 Minimizing damage- how this damage occurs is what we would need to know before making any pointed suggestions. If you post some of your common damage problems I'm sure you will receive a plethora of suggestions as to how to avoid such damage.

 Stainless steel versus plated carbon steel pins- I use only the plated carbon steel pins and have had no problems in 35 years. Humidity I'm told would be your main consideration for possibly using stainless pins; carbon steel pins may rust in very humid environments.

 Good luck with all those specimens! I can already feel my neck, back and shoulders crying for a massage.

 Robert Vandermoor
 Coquitlam, BC
 Canada.


*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 6/17/2004 at 11:51 AM Hugh McGuinness wrote:

>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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