|
|
Post by hellanichus on Feb 13, 2013 6:10:43 GMT -8
Greetings everyone. I was wondering if most of you freeze your dead dried butterflies before spreading them? I understood that this is a good way to kill any parasites. One dealer informed me that this really does not matter because the spreading board may have some parasitic eggs. Would be interested to hear some opinions on this.
Thank You
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Feb 13, 2013 6:57:19 GMT -8
hellanichus,
Firstly I should point out that the pests that eat dead specimens are not 'parasites'. Parasites live either inside or on the outside of a living animal and either eat the animal itself, or in the case of many gut parasites, eat the animal's ingested food.
The insects (Psocids and Anthrinus beetles mostly) that eat our specimens are 'pests' that are eating the dead insects that we wish to preserve.
The reason why it is best to freeze specimens before spreading them is that any new specimens received should not be put in with the rest of the collection until after they have been quarantined - either by freezing or treatment with poisons to kill pests. Theoretically the collection room should be free of pests (although it often isn't), but the last thing you want to do is introduce pests hiding on newly acquired specimens into the rest of the collection.
If I receive a box in the post I always open it first, then put all the specimens in an airtight plastic box and freeze them before they get anywhere near my collection room.
Of course the dealer was right to suggest that the setting board may contain eggs or even live insect pests hiding within them (Psocids often hide in old pinholes, they are that small). If your setting boards are not in a 'sterile' environment free from pests then it is a good idea to freeze the spread specimens after removing them from the setting board and before putting them in the spread collection.
Whenever you take a box of specimens out of the freezer you should always leave it sitting out in the room for several hours at least before opening it, so that the contents are at the same temperature as the room, otherwise condensation will appear on the specimens and can create various secondary problems (mould, springing etc).
Adam.
|
|
|
|
Post by hellanichus on Feb 13, 2013 7:05:41 GMT -8
Adam, that was a very interesting lesson on pests and how best to preserve our collections. I appreciate greatly all of this information and you can bet I will employ this knowledge. Thanks Much  PS How long should you freeze the newly acquired specimens? |
|
|
|
Post by simosg on Feb 13, 2013 10:50:16 GMT -8
I'm doing them into the freezer AFTER spreading, because dermestids can get on the specimens when they are on the spreading board. I always let them be in the freezer for some days.
Hannes
|
|
|
|
Post by papilio28570 on Feb 14, 2013 22:54:22 GMT -8
Good idea to freeze your spreading boards when not in use.
|
|
|
|
Post by africaone on Feb 15, 2013 2:51:25 GMT -8
Good idea to freeze your spreading boards when not in use. yes nice idea .... but doesn't it affect quality wood ? |
|
|
|
Post by wollastoni on Feb 15, 2013 5:18:58 GMT -8
Additive question : does some of you put a full drawer in the freezer ? Doesn't it affect drawers ?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by africaone on Feb 15, 2013 6:52:35 GMT -8
Additive question : does some of you put a full drawer in the freezer ? Doesn't it affect drawers ? Thanks i done it many times (butterflies and coleos), never had any damages  |
|
|
|
Post by simosg on Feb 15, 2013 6:53:50 GMT -8
I have done this, always with the same one. Ten times or so for several days. It does affect the wood. Not the first time, but later. Now I'm using an airtight box (Lock & Lock) in which I have glued plastazote at the bottom to stick the leps into. This is my Quarantine box, specimens come from the board into the box, when the box is full it comes into the freezer for a week and after this the specimens in the drawers.
Hannes
|
|
