Soaking insects

Why are you afraid of getting your wings wet?
Sometimes I use only cold water for soaking, leave it at room temperature, but my wings still get wet. By the way, what are the big butterflies? If such as hawkmoth, then they are perfectly soaked for 1 night, sometimes more (in cold water), such as birdwings a little more.. I have one soaked (though the box on the battery put) for the night and half a day. Wings at the same time while no one faded, did not change their properties, in general, nothing supernatural. They dry in different ways-hawkmoth is usually 6-10 days (and some other moths, Aglia tau, for example), pigeons are a little longer, the bird wing has not yet been removed.

You can put butterflies in the desiccator by pricking them on a temporary needle and sticking it into a piece of foam. If it is placed with the wings up, they will almost not get wet...

Sometimes you have to do an injection of ammonia in the chest , wait a little (acts like a solvent) BUT avoid getting it on the wings.

Actually, the wings get wet at the base if the butterfly is placed in a groove in wet sand, while the wet part of the wing changes color slightly, even after drying. The problem is not in that, but in the mold.

If the problem is mold , then wellcome to this topic
They discussed in detail the methods of mold control-from the use of traditional fungicides (many of which are relatively easy to get) to boiling beetles in a solution of washing powder

Large (and medium) butterflies can be CAREFULLY injected with a thin syringe of warm water in the chest at the base of the wings.

Not possible, but necessary. And not warm, but boiling water, the main thing is not to introduce too much.

This post was edited by beetleboy - 12/04/2006 01: 26

Yes, somehow it is not possible to inject water, although the experience of injections is decent. Actually, I noticed one thing: if you pour hot water into the desiccator, so that then condensation forms on the walls, then the material begins to mold, and if the water is cold, then it seems to be normal, although they are soaked longer. Large hawkmoth up to a week.

When desiccated in cold water, the material often begins to mold without even getting wet (especially for hawkmoth, tapeworms, etc.). For injection, it is best to take a thin syringe. Carefully inject a few drops (depending on the size) at the base of the wings (the main thing is not to wet the wings!) and into the desiccator with hot water. Put the desiccator near the battery or under the lamp - you can straighten it out the next day. The resulting condensation can be periodically shaken off the lid. By the way, long-term contact with humid air is harmful to many species: for example, pigeons and jaundice have discolored or discolored scales. In short, I am in favor of "fast" desiccation.

So pigeons in warm water on the battery get soaked in general very quickly. You can put it in the early evening and spread it out later.. In general, about 4 hours for soaking, if not priverayu.

So pigeons in warm water on the battery get soaked in general very quickly. You can put it in the early evening and spread it out later.. In general, about 4 hours for soaking, if not priverayu.

Yes, I have about the same.

Here is a question: after soaking, butterflies for some reason dry much longer than not soaked and straightened when caught. What is the reason for this? They dry at the battery. Maybe high humidity in the room? It's just that there's a lot of material over the course of a year, and there aren't enough straightening tools, but I want to straighten everything out before April.
The body itself dries out, but the wings are lowered if removed from the straighteners.

This post was edited by AntSkr - 07.11.2007 21: 24

strange strange.. Most likely humidity.. I can't explain it any other way.. I have, for example, fresh butterflies can dry for a month, and soaked and 3 days..

The most interesting thing is that as soon as I put a copy in the box , the next day it's completely dry (and with the wings lowered...)

And fresh scoops I have for 2 days in the summer dried up...

To Sergeich-Yes, come on, my dear!experience in'ektsii great!...?I even give pigeons a ride on the igloo."Train yourself! And finally-desiccator-great but, you say mold and all that...For 15 years I have been doing this - an insulin syringe, the needle is the thinnest, I inject boiling water.The abdomen is soaked for 3 to 10 minutes.And then a boiling kettle, a jet of steam, a butterfly on the needle of the same syringe in the jet.You steam your sawyere and wings.And you yourself dose both the time and place of steaming.Then you edit.This is not all.On the rule of 5-6 days, and then in the oven, min. for 20-25.and then another 5 days. And everything is ready.The wings are not lowered.Although I won't lie, it happens.But very rarely,very rarely!

To Sergeich-Yes, come on, my dear!experience in'ektsii great!...?

You know, I'm a doctor, and I'm also a child's doctor. Hence the experience. With all your experience, it is unlikely that you will manage to pin a" butterfly " to a newborn child (a butterfly is a needle, thinner than an insulin needle with wings for fixing and a piece of tube instead of a cannula). The question is a year old, but this problem is not relevant for me today. I prick the butterfly with a "butterfly", enter ordinary cold water and put it in the desiccator for a day. Then there are no problems with straightening. On the straightener, they dry out in about a day. Heating, but the air in the apartment is dry. If I overexpose it in the desiccator, it can also get moldy, but this is extremely rare. I've gained a lot of experience over the past year. By the way, soaked butterflies dry much faster than fresh ones.

2 Ironbutt
Yes, your experience is interesting, but too time-consuming, I am still satisfied with the usual method

Sergeyich, what if you soak it in vodka instead of water? And even better - in alcohol at 60 degrees. In the latter case, you can keep the material in the desiccator for a month, and mold, if the desiccator is tight, does not appear. I, as an alcohol specialist, deal, however, with beetles, but what if butterflies are also suitable?

Omar, again about vodka! And how to ensure tightness of the desiccator? Don't open it? I, as a future pediatric surgeon, spent several years rummaging through the anatomy room, saw how pro-formalized corpses mold in the air, and even pro-alcohol ones will definitely mold. Mold was treated with carbolic acid (phenol) or lysol. Tightness is unlikely to help, the primary contamination of an insect (and even a person) took place during life, and before placing it in the desiccator, it is necessary to make it sterile. Yes, and I do butterflies so, out of curiosity and beauty. Dragonflies are my lot.

I repeat, the relevance of the topic has dried up for me so far, everything is working out, thank you for your advice and support!

Sergeyich, I know how formalin preparations get moldy. The animal doctor himself. But in the vapors of alcohol or vodka (if we are talking about 3-4 days), I have never had anything moldy.

As you can see, vodka is really a universal tool for a Russian person: if you want - soak it, if you want - rub it with diseases, celebrate a wedding or go to the swamp...

Muzhuki, I will be the third!although shiloh is better than vodka.And better awl-voroshilovka (stolen awl)- an old Kolyma fable.And the opposite of mold is lysol.Verified.Even though it's poisonous, you bastard.

Recently invented a new method of soaking.. in the microwave. In general, I take a plastic container that closes, put cotton wool on the bottom and fill it with water, so that it doesn't quite float. I put the butterfly between the cotton wool, so that the wings touch the soaked cotton wool only at the very root, no further. 15 seconds in the microwave, sometimes a little more, in general, so that the water becomes hot, but the butterfly can be straightened. It is interesting to hear opinions on this subject.

Recently invented a new method of soaking.. in the microwave. In general, I take a plastic container that closes, put cotton wool on the bottom and fill it with water, so that it doesn't quite float. I put the butterfly between the cotton wool, so that the wings touch the soaked cotton wool only at the very root, no further. 15 seconds in the microwave, sometimes a little more, in general, so that the water becomes hot, but the butterfly can be straightened. It is interesting to hear opinions on this subject.

Have you tried to soften the beetles like this?

It seems to me that with this method, microwaves can still damage the internal structures of large insects, and this will not have the best effect on the safety of the material. For example, thin whiskers or paw segments may fall off over time. But this is also just my guess. Maybe someone knows the physics of the process better? Engineers or techies, because there are some of them among us. Maybe they will tell you.

Sergeyich, what if you soak it in vodka instead of water? And even better - in alcohol at 60 degrees. In the latter case, you can keep the material in the desiccator for a month, and mold, if the desiccator is tight, does not appear. I, as an alcohol specialist, deal, however, with beetles, but what if butterflies are also suitable?

By the way, I also soak beetles in vodka. Both faster and sanitizer at the same time. Another plus is that the straightened beetle dries much faster after this.

strange strange.. Most likely humidity.. I can't explain it any other way.. I have, for example, fresh butterflies can dry for a month, and soaked and 3 days..

I moved the straighteners to another room. Everything dried up in a couple of days. So, after all, humidity...

This post was edited by AntSkr - 10.11.2007 20: 50

and Zhukov tried it.. 10 sec..
There are also suggestions about the harm.. Therefore, it is interesting to know your opinions.
In the film, the BBC watched that microwaves do not even touch insects, since they are smaller than the waves themselves, but this was about living insects, I don't know about dead ones..

I soaked the beetles in boiling water. Brew-wait 3-5 minutes, and so 2-3 times is usually enough. Tried on ground beetles-100 percent result. According to the butterflies in vodka, too, there were never any problems with mold

I soaked the beetles in boiling water. Brew-wait 3-5 minutes, and so 2-3 times is usually enough. Tried on ground beetles-100 percent result. According to the butterflies in vodka, too, there were never any problems with mold

I have now adapted to put on the battery (soak beetles). They are heated from the heart, not sparing fuel oil, so that the temperature is like in a good bath-they are soaked quickly, they do not have time to get moldy.

I soak beetles the old-fashioned way: in a desiccator, at the bottom - calcined (required!) river sand, I fill it with boiling water to a high degree of moisture (but without "puddles" on the surface), until the boiling water has cooled down, I spread a batch of beetles on the surface (small ones - on cotton pads (cosmetic), previously "disassembled" into a thinner layer). I don't put it on the battery. Mold (ugh, ugh, ugh) was never found, soften-small-in a few hours (depending on the size and period of being in a dry state), large - a maximum of a day. Softening also depends on the group: I noticed that, for example, zlatki soften for some reason worse (no matter how much you hold, they are not so elastic), ground beetles, black bodies-just do not overdo it, or even into parts-the segments will disintegrate, barbels - without problems... And, however, everything comes by experience.

I soaked the beetles in boiling water. Brew-wait 3-5 minutes, and so 2-3 times is usually enough. Tried on ground beetles-100 percent result. According to the butterflies in vodka, too, there were never any problems with mold

And I did this with beetles (although with one "brew" for half an hour), it turns out, and you can even prepare it right away (I"spied" this method from Nikitsky N. B.) .

And I did this with beetles (although with one "brew" for half an hour), it turns out, and you can even prepare it right away (I"spied" this method from Nikitsky N. B.).

Sorry for the ignorance, but what does it mean "with one brew for half an hour?" Pour beetles with steep boiling water in a bowl, just like you brew tea? And covered with "wool", scales so you can? What about the coloring (for those who have red-yellow pigments)? Please tell us more about the technology!

I do this (brew with steep boiling water, for a few minutes. sometimes up to a day). I only deal with ground beetles. I didn't notice any negative aspects. If anyone noticed it, please let us know.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what does it mean "with one brew for half an hour?" Pour beetles with steep boiling water in a bowl, just like you brew tea? And covered with "wool", scales so you can? What about the coloring (for those who have red-yellow pigments)? Please tell us more about the technology!

Just pour in some bowl of boiling water from the kettle and leave for half an hour.
But honestly, I haven't tried beetles with scales like this before, so I don't know. I tried with ground beetles and katops (and something else, I don't remember exactly).

I do this (brew with steep boiling water, for a few minutes. sometimes up to a day). I only deal with ground beetles. I didn't notice any negative aspects. If anyone noticed it, please let us know.

The segments and especially the antennae after boiling water treatment become very brittle when dried . They break down at the slightest wrong movement. Whereas with normal soaking, there is a chance that the segment will spring and not break.

Soaking in a desiccator, in my opinion, is the best option. And you can even pour not boiling water, but water at room temperature. Only, accordingly, it will be soaked longer. If you leave it in the desiccator for a couple of days, then mold will begin. Especially with butterflies, this kind of trouble happens. You can get rid of mold if you add phenol to the water.
I also soaked it in boiling water, but here it is inconvenient with small beetles, they can break. Therefore, this option is to pour boiling water into a jar, put something floating on top(a piece of foam, for example), and an insect on it and close it all with a lid.
About alcohol - in my opinion, this is bad, because after alcohol, the insect's muscles shrivel up and become weakly mobile. As a result, the something thread breaks. Although this option is possible if you put cans of formalin (then alcohol softens the insect a little).
It seems that these are all thoughts on this issue...