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Post by johnnyboy on Sept 10, 2012 0:27:43 GMT -8
I notice that, in the classified ads, there is a "black form" of a D.hercules beetle being offered. Although I cannot comment on this particular specimen I know, from having a number of specimens of D. hercules collected over the last thirty years, that a standard brown coloured D. hercules male will turn jet black purely from grease from the body seeping into the wing cases, and the resultant appearance appears permanent, unless of course the specimen is degreased using petrol or another non- polar solvent. I know other collectors who have found the same thing.
This is not to say that the specimen being offered is not a genuine black form, however, it seems that it is rather more likely to be a greasy "normal-coloured" male.
Johnny
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Post by beetlesdundee on Sept 14, 2012 16:00:46 GMT -8
hello , black form exist , i have got somes ecuatorianus , generally specimens with small size , and 100% sure ungreassed specimen , will try to post a picture of one , but it is papered and unmounted
greetings Patrick
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Post by johnnyboy on Sept 15, 2012 9:50:44 GMT -8
Patrick,
I'm interested to see a picture of a black D. lichyi, as I've only seen brown, grey and green thus far.
Johnny
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Post by beetlesdundee on Sept 22, 2012 17:00:25 GMT -8
Hello Johnny here is a pict , specimen from Loreto , Peru recieved fresh 2 mounths ago Patrick Attachments:
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Post by johnnyboy on Sept 23, 2012 8:01:23 GMT -8
Patrick, thanks for posting a photo your black Dynastes. Here is a photo of the Dynastes male of mine. It was wild caught in Ecuador 1993. It started out as with brown elytra but, after I pinned it, grease seeped out of the body, slowly stained the area around the pin until it had covered all the wing cases and turned them jet black. If I soaked it in petrol it would degrease it and make it brown again, however as I have 10 different D. hercules males I'm happy to have a black example. Johnny Attachments:
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Post by lucanidae25 on Sept 24, 2012 14:32:02 GMT -8
There's only one way to find out and that is to acetone it to see if it changes collours or not.
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Post by johnnyboy on Sept 24, 2012 23:10:02 GMT -8
If it is a greasy specimen, rather than a black form, then it would depend on how long it has been "greased up" whether it would reveal its true colour by a simple quick solvent soak or a long bath in acetone or petrol.
In any event, I am happy with my black specimen even though it is caused by grease, (as in many respects this should be considered "natural" as it has not been tampered with or treated with any chemical agents, even if the black colouration is not structural) and I'm sure other collectors would feel the same.
Johnny
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Post by thanos on Oct 11, 2012 19:08:17 GMT -8
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Post by johnnyboy on Oct 11, 2012 23:43:50 GMT -8
Thanos,
I agree, it is clearly a greased beetle.
Anyone with any experience of collecting, dealing or breeding Hercules beetles would realise that this is the result of bodyfat rather than structural coloration. However, the advert is quite straight forward and purely descriptive apart from the term "rare" which implies that the specimen is a form which it most likely isn't of course.
The grease has not totally saturated the elytra so it is dark coloured, as claimed, rather than black. The more northerly Dynastes species, such as D. maya, D. hyllus and D. tityus, especially if bred, seem to grease up very readily.
Johnny
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Post by exoticimports on Jun 23, 2018 17:02:01 GMT -8
I had one specimen turn all black after punctured by a pin and now another that is half black. So I suppose into the acetone they go.
Problem is the tarsi were busted off so I repaired with Elmer’s glue. What will acetone do to the glue?
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Post by johnnyboy on Jun 24, 2018 22:47:06 GMT -8
Elmers glue is PVA based. While PVA is not dissolved by pure acetone, acetone has a strong affinity for water and will readily absorb it from the surrounding air. This means that it would be likely that, if you use acetone as a degreaser, it will contain water and will dissolve the Elmers glue that you have used.
If the acetone is pure, because of its strong affinity with water, it has a drying effect which may make the beetle really brittle.
Therefore I would use gasoline, which is a very effective degreaser, rather than acetone to degrease the specimen.
Johnny
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Post by exoticimports on Jun 25, 2018 8:48:31 GMT -8
But gasoline has oil that never dissipates and stinks. I have used kerosene and paint stripper to remove cosmoline from machine parts I wonder if one would be a better solution
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Jun 25, 2018 9:47:24 GMT -8
I use White Gasoline to decrease specimens. I do not collect beetles but it should work on them as well.
At one time I used egg whites as a glue. I use Clear Elmer's Glue now.
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Post by lamprima2 on Jun 25, 2018 18:38:24 GMT -8
But gasoline has oil that never dissipates and stinks. I have used kerosene and paint stripper to remove cosmoline from machine parts I wonder if one would be a better solution Chuck, If you do not like the smell of ordinary gasoline, try a lighter fuel, such as Ronsonol. Unfortunately, it is expensive: about 3 bucks per 5 fl. oz. I used it a couple of times, de-greasing the abdomens in leps.
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Post by johnnyboy on Jun 25, 2018 22:50:21 GMT -8
I have used standard car petrol in the UK, I've never had any residue from it and the smell doesn't bother me.
Johnny
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