[NHCOLL-L:1223] RE: butterfly mounts

[Bob Glotzhober]

I'd recommend sticking with the Riker Mounts and using specimens that you
are not worried about lasting 100 years plus  -- i.e. non-permanent
collections/ education collections.  The Riker Mounts are tough and
specimens inside last well with rough handling.  I suggest you tape the
bottom edge and not just depend on the pins.  Specimens in Riker mounts can
readily be passed around without damage -- in shadow boxes you cannot pass
them, and if you are transporting them to different teaching locations the
pinned specimens experience shaking damage.  I'd further suggest if you want
a fumigant inside, use a small piece of flea collar under the cotton and not
PDB.  The flea collar may not provide as good as protection as PDB, but you
don't have to explain why you are subjecting children in school groups to a
noxious chemical -- since half of the kids probably have pets with flea
collars at home.  

One final note.  If you do want to pass them around, use the bigger Riker
mounts with multiple specimens inside.  It is less likely that kids will
"palm" these as they are harder to hide.  It's a harsh reality that you will
loose some specimens, it is at a minor rate I believe, but it happens.
Another reason for using non-permanent collection specimens for these
programs.


> ===========================================
> Robert C. Glotzhober		bglotzhober at ohiohistory.org
> Curator of Natural History		phone  614 297-2633
> Ohio Historical Society		fax       614 297-2233
> 1982 Velma Avenue
> Columbus  OH  43211-2497
> 
> Visit the Web Site of the Ohio Historical Society at
> http://www.ohiohistory.org/
> 
> See our "Curators Curiosities" web page at
> http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/collect/curator/index.html
> 
> Visit the Web Page of the Ohio Odonata Society (dragonflies & damselflies)
> at
>    http://mcnet.marietta.edu/~odonata/index.html
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Hoar Kerrie L [SMTP:hoar.kerr at uwlax.edu]
> Sent:	Tuesday, September 25, 2001 9:18 AM
> To:	nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject:	[NHCOLL-L:1220] butterfly mounts
> 
> Does anyone have a good method for storing butterflies?  We have some
> old 
> riker mounts that are in poor condition.  I checked into new riker
> boxes, 
> but found that these are not meant for long term storage.  I need some
> sort 
> of box with a clear top that would work for long term storage.  I would 
> need access for adding PDB.  They would also have to be sturdy -- as
> they 
> are used for teaching purposes.
> 
> You can respond to me at: hoar.kerr at uwlax.edu.
> 
> Thanks much.
> 
> Kerrie
> Kerrie L. Hoar, M. S.
> University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
> Department of Biology
> 341 Cowley Hall
> La Crosse, WI  54601
> (608) 785-6459
> 
> hoar.kerr at uwlax.edu
> 
> http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/hoar