Sending tailed leps by post

[fromindonesia]

Has anybody been disappointed when opening up their long awaited packet of leps to find the contents damaged despite the packaging professionally put together? I am referring to tailed leps such as Papilio, Charaxes and Polyura etc.
I am a seller and every now and again tailed leps that I send out are received with the tails damaged, other parts of the butterfly still being intact such as the antennae.
As from now I will be posting with the envelope stapled around the tail, the photo shows an example.
Do members have any advice on this problem.
Thanks Chris

[jensb]

I had this broblem whit my last sending the lamproptera tailes where even broken in the middle.
Maybe it would be a good idea to attach the lep at one side to carton or very thick paper
So it cant bend as much but you get the problem how to take the papered butterfly out.

Greets jens

[lepman1256]

When I purchase butterflies from Ianni's, all butterfly triangles are stapled within another typing paper grade paper envelope. Many also have some paper toweling as padding within all of this. I never have any problems with tail damage.

[cyane]

Lining the envelopes with tissue paper (toilet paper, paper towel etc) stops the specimen sliding about in the envelope and its tails are prevented from hitting the folded edge of the envelope. I believe this sliding in the envelope is the main cause of broken tails, assuming that the rest of the packaging is ok, eg the envelopes have to be packed quite tightly so that they themselves do not slide about and hit the edges of the container.
David Hall.

[boghaunter1]

This problem of broken tails, antennae, etc. on leps has been a pet peeve of mine, forever, & are an ongoing problem with the majority of collectors & "professional" dealers today. In recent yrs. I have become very reluctant, especially, to trade specimens with other private collectors as a lot of the stuff I get back is very sloppily prepared & labelled (when I send double protected, fully labelled specimens in return).. A lot of the dealers aren't much better. I shudder (& thank my gods) every time I buy or trade for a rare lep & it still arrives intact while sliding around loose inside an oversized glassine envelope while in bone jarring, horrific, transit. Solution is indeed easy as mentioned by others... double envelopes with an inner tissue/paper napkin liner. I double envelope all my leps for trade/exchange (see nice packaging from some Russian collectors in the classifieds) & have never had a complaint from fellow collectors (& I supply dealers on occasion). It takes a few seconds of extra work, but rare specimens (all specimens really... have died for your pleasure/profit) & deserve the best care... simply too much effort for many. Legible data, if hand written, also a big problem... all data, IMHO, should be computer labelled in this day & age... especially for the price we have to pay for rarer stuff. I also hate staples around the tails of Swallowtails.. an inner paper liner is all that is needed.

My lifelong, perpetual Rant only, John K.

[boghaunter1]

Russian dealer/collector mentioned above is Yuriy Slevin... see his ads in the classifieds here anytime. I do not know Mr. Slevin at all, but admire/wish that everyone's leps should be packaged & labelled, IMHO, as his example. Same way I do my own specimens... takes some extra "work"... but these results are what I call "professional.

John K.

[boghaunter1]

Sincerest Apologies to Mr. YURIY SHEVNIN for spelling his last name wrong!

John K.

[Adam Cotton]

Yes, Yuri Shevnin's material is always well packed. I should say that Chris' data is always excellent too.

Chris,

I agree with John, DO NOT put staples around the tails. If the specimen does move even a little they will break for certain, and if it arrives safely chances are the recipient will break them trying to get it out of the packet. Staples on packets always annoy me and really are unnecessary. Another important point to bear in mind is that the staples from one envelope can actually destroy the specimen in the next envelope below during transit. I once had a terrible parcel from Liese with staples in everything and nearly all the specimens were destroyed by them rubbing against the next specimen.

Just put a triangle of tissue paper in the envelope for rarer butterflies, but in reality that's not necessary either. The secret is to double box the parcel with the specimens in an inner solid plastic box of the type that does not shatter if impacted. Next put a layer of padding (cotton wool, bubble plastic etc) FLAT in the bottom and evenly distribute the specimens around the bottom of the box. When all the specimens are placed in the box lay cotton wool on top and keep on adding more until it pushes the specimens down very tightly when the lid is closed. The result looks like a sandwich:





The important point here is that the butterflies cannot move inside their own packets, as that is what causes the tails and antennae to break when the parcel is thrown about in the postal system. Once the inner box is packed (seal it shut with sticky tape, so that it cannot come loose in transit) put it in an outer box with plenty of padding around it. If the outer box is made from cardboard it is a good idea to tape all around the sides of the box, as that helps strengthen it.

Adam.

[fromindonesia]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on this issue. In summary then
(1) No staples whatever
(2) Tissue lined envelopes for the more expensive/rarer items and maybe those with extra long tails such as G.androcles.
(3) Double pack, using a secure and strong plastic box on the inside. On the outside a box made from corrugated cardboard, well taped up. Use corrugated cardboard as this will help to absorb shocks in transit.
(4) Inside the plastic box the items to be well padded with cotton wool, tissue and or bubble wrap. The height of the padding to be raised slightly above the level of the box, so when the lid is pressed down the padding then applies pressure to the contents. This hopefully stops the butterflies from moving around inside the envelope. Remembering also that the padding base of the plastic box to be flat so that the envelopes are layered level.
(5) Envelope size to suit size of insect

Chris

[admin]

Mar 15, 2014 18:26:55 GMT -8 fromindonesia said:

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on this issue. In summary then
(1) No staples whatever
(2) Tissue lined envelopes for the more expensive/rarer items and maybe those with extra long tails such as G.androcles.
(3) Double pack, using a secure and strong plastic box on the inside. On the outside a box made from corrugated cardboard, well taped up. Use corrugated cardboard as this will help to absorb shocks in transit.
(4) Inside the plastic box the items to be well padded with cotton wool, tissue and or bubble wrap. The height of the padding to be raised slightly above the level of the box, so when the lid is pressed down the padding then applies pressure to the contents. This hopefully stops the butterflies from moving around inside the envelope. Remembering also that the padding base of the plastic box to be flat so that the envelopes are layered level.
(5) Envelope size to suit size of insect

Chris

You got it. I especially use a triangle of tissue paper inside to wrap expensive specimens, even if they don't have tails.

[Adam Cotton]

"The height of the padding to be raised slightly above the level of the box, so when the lid is pressed down the padding then applies pressure to the contents."

The padding should be more than "slightly" above the level of the box, especially with cotton wool which compresses a lot. It is important that the padding pushes the specimens tightly together. That is also the important reason why the padding on the bottom of the box should be flat and the specimens evenly distributed on top. This prevents any possible damage when closing the lid down and compressing the padding. With cotton wool the padding needs to be at least as thick again as the original space in the top of the box, bearing in mind that you also need to close the spaces inside and between the specimen envelopes. With bubble plastic the same pressure can be achieved with less thickness as it doesn't compress as much as cotton wool. It is also much lighter, which saves on postage.

Adam.