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Post by joniverson on Sept 18, 2020 8:56:17 GMT -8
Some of the leps I have came from vendors. While I have been happy with service (and I see from the recommended list on this forum that the ones I have used have appeared there too with good standing), I am consistently disappointed with my results. I'm talking about receiving the dried lep, then relaxing for how ever much time it takes (usually 1-3 days), then remounting and drying. My results always seem like I've either introduced more wrinkling than I like and or "spotting" (I don't know what you call all the white little specking and even what looks like wear when you take a photograph... I don't see this on ones taken in the wild... and it's not from the flash as I use custom softeners). I cover wings entirely with tracing paper.
The purchased ones just seem to lose that "authentic" quality over any of ones I've caught myself, mounted, and dried. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. Thoughts? |
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Post by exoticimports on Sept 18, 2020 13:00:10 GMT -8
Well for one, you’re not relaxing long enough.
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Post by gaspipe on Sept 18, 2020 18:02:38 GMT -8
This is a great question and problem to solve . To exoticimports ; 3 days isn’t enough?  ? |
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Post by wollastoni on Sept 19, 2020 3:54:12 GMT -8
3 days can be not enough for big butterflies... it all depends of your relaxing method.
The right duration is when you obtain very flexible wings before spreading.
When I try to speed up the process with non perfectly relaxed specimens, the specimen wings tend to go up or down after few months...
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Post by gaspipe on Sept 19, 2020 4:27:48 GMT -8
3 days can be not enough for big butterflies... it all depends of your relaxing method. The right duration is when you obtain very flexible wings before spreading. When I try to speed up the process with non perfectly relaxed specimens, the specimen wings tend to go up or down after few months... Please share your relaxing method(s). |
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Post by joniverson on Sept 19, 2020 5:37:28 GMT -8
Sorry, but relaxing longer has not done the job for me. I've used a variety of methods. I once read about using Listerine as relaxing agent because specimens can be relaxed for weeks without molding. I can verify this as being true. I had one Limenitis arthemis in such a container for three weeks earlier this season. No mold, but even after it was relaxed all that time, mounted, and dried, it still didn't look as nice dried as if I used one from a direct catch or from the freezer. I didn't buy that one, it was already well dried inside of an envelope.
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Post by exoticimports on Sept 19, 2020 6:51:43 GMT -8
Do a search. There have been discussions on relaxing techniques, liquids, containers, injection, cutting muscles, duration required, etc. Also discussions on the sister site. No need to rehash it again.
Note that I have several specimens of Leps in a container right now that are not ready after five days.
Chuck
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Post by joniverson on Sept 19, 2020 7:09:39 GMT -8
Do a search. There have been discussions on relaxing techniques, liquids, containers, injection, cutting muscles, duration required, etc. Also discussions on the sister site. No need to rehash it again. Note that I have several specimens of Leps in a container right now that are not ready after five days. Chuck "Do a search" in reference to me or the other poster? |
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Post by exoticimports on Sept 19, 2020 17:14:39 GMT -8
Do a search. There have been discussions on relaxing techniques, liquids, containers, injection, cutting muscles, duration required, etc. Also discussions on the sister site. No need to rehash it again. Note that I have several specimens of Leps in a container right now that are not ready after five days. Chuck "Do a search" in reference to me or the other poster? Both. Plenty of discussions on relaxing, setting, storage, etc. |
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Post by Adam Cotton on Sept 19, 2020 23:10:33 GMT -8
What exoticimports means is use the search link at top of the page (https://insectnet.proboards.com/search) and put words in such as relax etc etc. You can also find other threads on the same topics at collector-secret.proboards.com/ by searching there. Adam. |
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Sept 20, 2020 4:18:07 GMT -8
I must admit that I have learned a great deal from these discussions. Especially those on preparing specimens. Especially dried papered specimens. However, I learned as a teenager that I could cut the wing muscles with an Exacto Knife or a Scalpel. One must be precise when cutting wing muscles. If not. You will learn how to glue on wings in a hurry.
Old papered material can be extremely difficult to prepare. Does anyone have a better method?
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Post by joniverson on Sept 20, 2020 4:35:11 GMT -8
Thanks, the discussion ends here then.
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Post by exoticimports on Sept 20, 2020 6:39:13 GMT -8
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Post by 58chevy on Sept 20, 2020 7:25:34 GMT -8
The method I use is to take the butterfly out of the envelope and place it in direct contact with wet paper towels inside a tupperware container. I then cover the specimen with more wet paper towels and close the lid. Most specimens are flexible enough to spread after one day. It takes longer than that for mold to set in, so adding chemicals to prevent mold is not necessary (although it's a good idea). This method works even on large sphinx moths. If I leave the specimen in the envelope, it takes much longer. Being in direct contact with the paper towels has never resulted in water marks in my experience. If the specimen isn't flexible enough after a day, I usually add naphthalene mothballs to prevent mold.
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Post by jshuey on Sept 20, 2020 13:00:58 GMT -8
The method I use is to take the butterfly out of the envelope and place it in direct contact with wet paper towels inside a tupperware container. I then cover the specimen with more wet paper towels and close the lid. Most specimens are flexible enough to spread after one day. It takes longer than that for mold to set in, so adding chemicals to prevent mold is not necessary (although it's a good idea). This method works even on large sphinx moths. If I leave the specimen in the envelope, it takes much longer. Being in direct contact with the paper towels has never resulted in water marks in my experience. If the specimen isn't flexible enough after a day, I usually add naphthalene mothballs to prevent mold. I've done thousands of bugs using this method - except the paper towels are wrung out as much as possible, and my bugs come out of their envelopes. I would never go back to using a traditional relaxer. john |
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