[Nhcoll-l] Rust-stained butterflies?
Couteaufin at aol.com
Couteaufin at aol.com
Wed Oct 3 07:00:16 EDT 2012
I was visiting a local natural history society yesterday and my attention
was drawn to a drawer of pinned Brimstone butterflies that appeared to have
a rusty staining contaminating their wings. A quick look with a handlens
revealed tiny brown hyphae in the midst of the stained areas. The fungi,
such as they appear to be, have been neutralised but administering some
ethanol on a fine brush but the staining is still there. The drawers had been
routinely frozen against insect pests and it's believed that this may have
caused the 'staining'.
I don't believe that the staining can be removed by any means but has
anyone come across this specific problem before and what is the fungus? Also
why weren't other species of butterfly in the drawer (Clouded Yellows)
similarly affected?
I can provide a photo to anyone interested.
With all good wishes, Simon
Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
_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)
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