make dried Caterpillar specimen,core problem!

[timoinsects]

we discussed this topical several months ago.
i tried but failed.

1.pricking a hole in the anus of Caterpillar,
2.then rolling the organs out by using a cylinder,a pen for example,
3.the last,MOST DIFFICULT!injecting silica gel from the most internal section to the anus,so the Caterpillar skil was blew up to vivid appearance.

the problem come,i use silica gun to push silica gel in,but the plastic pinhead's diameter is big,so makes it impossible to insert into the Caterpillar,so i selected the medical injector,but the pinhead's diameter is small so that i was unable to push the silica in as the pressure requires very big. the silica gel is very dense. it is not liquid.

what is your method to inject silica gel in? using what equipment?
please teach!

if you've had the pictures of the processes in your PC,it would be great to attach the photos.

Many Thanks in advance!

[timoinsects]

here again,

how about to make Eucleidae caterpillar specimen that take out their
organs? also by rolling/pressing? but they have spines!

Eucleidae caterpillars are very beautiful! i want to reserve their beauties forever!

[timoinsects]

a Eucleidae

Attachments:

[dertodesking]

Timo,

Watkins and Doncaster (the English entomological company) sell a larvae preservation kit (see their webpage at www.watdon.co.uk/the-naturalists/acatalog/Ento_equipment.html)

I've never used it but the basic technique is to empty the contents of the body by rolling, inserting a small glass blow tube into the anus and filling the cat with air before drying in the "oven".

I'm sure other well known suppliers may produce something similar if you search the net.

Simon

[nomihoudai]

I bet the Eucleidae will loose all their color when dried, red is not really a very stable color.