Priamus

[wingedwishes]

Here's one of mine.

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[wingedwishes]

and another

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[jamesd]

I never thought about mounting spiders...
Nice Ornithoptera. Not that I'm (anywhere near) an expert, but it would have been better if the left hindwing of the male was further upwards - symmetry with the right wing. Maybe I'm a perfectionist.

[wingedwishes]

You are right. I had not noticed it. I get a bit crosseyed pinning out so many. I'll correct it tonight - thanks.

[jamesd]

How do you correct the wings? I thought it was impossible after it was dry!

[wingedwishes]

I'd have to re-humidify it and spread it again. Another way which is cheating is to remove a wing and use gel superglue to reattatch. When mounted this way, no one can see the underside.

[simosg]

It is not neccesary to soften it completely. Inject hot water into the throrax, and you can correct the wings immediatly.

Hannes

[jamesd]

Hot water through a syringe? Strange techniques.
Well thats useful, I could try humidifying, or the Syringe! on some of my older specimens that are poorly spread. Thanks.

[simosg]

At the link above there is explained the method with injecting water.

insectcompany.com/howto/butterfly-relaxing.shtml

Hannes

[wollastoni]

"Hot water through a syringe? Strange techniques" : James, most of us use this technique which is very fast and useful.

Just be careful the first time you use it, don't do it with a rare lep.

[simosg]

Yes, you don't have to inject hot water till the specimen is softened. This will not work. Just a little water, so that you can open the wings a little bit. Then put it in the relaxer for two hours or so.

Hannes

[wollastoni]

I personnaly recommend one day in the relaxer after the "hot water injection" method.

2 hours is ok to spread the wings ... but antennaes might not be relaxed enough and might easily break.

I also put antennaes in hot water, before putting the lep in the relaxer. Be careful, only antennaes, not wings

[simosg]

I let them two hours in the box, even birdwings. Most times this is enough. During the winter I do the box on a radiator which is only a little warm, otherwise it does not work within two hours. But don't do this with males of Ornithoptera victoriae, they get brown stains into the green patches very fast. The head and the antennae are relaxed within two hours also by me, but I also dip them into hot water to be sure.

Hannes

[mantisboy]

That is cool. I made a case almost just like it with a pair of priamus like almost with the same color fabric and everything!