[NHCOLL-L:5438] RE: permanent storage of insect genatalia

[Couteaufin at aol.com]

There are various fluids from the past for storage of many different parts  
or types of arthropods and although I agree with the addition of a 
humectant to  prevent drying out, glycerine is a useful mould/mold medium although 
its use has  often combined the use of fungal inhibitors such as thymol (now 
banned) and  menthol.  
Has anyone thought of using propylene glycol as a humectant instead?   I 
have not had any problem with mould growing in 5% aqueous solutions of  this.
 
With all good  wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Conservator of Natural  Sciences,

_www.natural-history-conservation.com_ 
(http://www.natural-history-conservation.com/)  
_www.pocket-fruit-knives.info_ (http://www.pocket-fruit-knives.info/)  

_http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve_ 
(http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve)   


In a message dated 13/05/2011 17:57:14 GMT Daylight Time,  
jgrehan at sciencebuff.org writes:

 
Safest for permanence  might be slide mounts in Canada balsam. But if you 
are going with liquid  preservation at least include some glycerine so they 
do not dry out completely  (although I think there may be some issues with 
that but others may know more)  should the stoppers fail (which they will at 
some point if the vials are not  stored in a larger container), and also if 
in vials, store the vials upside  down in a larger container with the same 
preservative (easier to top up and  less likely to have total loss of fluids 
in the  vials). 
John  Grehan 
 
  
____________________________________
 
From:  owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] 
On Behalf Of Mary Sollows
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 10:21  AM
To:  NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5431] permanent  storage of insect genatalia
I  would like some archival advice on choosing micro vials for permanent 
storage  of insect genitalia.  Please comment on the pros and cons of: a. 
Glass  Micro Vials with Silicone Stoppers, b. Polyethylene Micro Vials with 
Silicone  Stoppers and c. Polyethylene Micro Vials with Neoprene Stoppers.  I  
welcome other suggestions for permanent storage. 
Thanks, 
Mary 
Mary Sollows, M.Sc. 
Curatorial Assistant: Zoology /Adjointe à la  conservation des collections 
zoologiques  
Natural Sciences Department / Département de sciences  naturelles  
New  Brunswick Museum / Musée du  Nouveau-Brunswick 
277 Douglas  Ave. 
Saint  John, New  Brunswick 
Canada   E2K 1E5 
_Mary.Sollows at nbm-mnb.ca_ (mailto:Mary.Sollows at nbm-mnb.ca)  
tel: (506) 643-2365 
fax: (506) 643-2360  
_http://www.nbm-mnb.ca/_ (http://www.nbm-mnb.ca/)  



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