Tail repair tips—best adhesive?

[Crake]

Hi all.

I’ve just returned from vacation with a few decent specimens of Iphiclides podalirius. Unfortunately a few of their tails detached during transit, and I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to which adhesive would be most effective at reattaching them.

Thanks in advance.

[yorky]

I use cheap crafting glue, I've repaired hundreds of specimens with it and you can't see any trace of glue when it dries.

[58chevy]

I've used both Elmer's glue and plastic model airplane glue. Both seem to work equally well. The model airplane glue (Testors brand) dries much quicker, so you have only a few seconds to adjust the position of your tail. If you're new at this type of repair, Elmer's (cheap crafting glue) would be preferable. If you want to make a very sturdy attachment, cut a small piece of paper (a little narrower than the butterfly's tail), place a small drop of glue on one end, carefully place the detached tail on top of the glue, then place another drop of glue on the other end of the paper, slide it underneath the butterfly's wing and align the tail with the wing. This will be a stronger bond than glue alone, but the paper will be visible when you look at the butterfly from the ventral side.

[lordpandarus]

I use white Crayola project glue (dries transparent, better than Elmer which is sort of milky looking when dry) mixed with 99% alcool in a small vial.

this is my best recipe yet. Amazing for small tears in wings .The alcool makes it thin enough so the wings don't curl up when the glue dries