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Post by daffodildeb on Aug 22, 2012 9:43:48 GMT -8
Can one of you oracles of wisdom tell me how to prevent discoloration in birdwings? I'm referring to the patchy color change in species such as Ornithoptera priamus urvillianus, where the blue is sometimes splotched with a lighter turquoise. I've also seen it in the green priamus species. I use no chemicals, just water, when I rehydrate. These are perfect specimens other than that.  How can I prevent it? Can anything be done to correct it? |
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Post by simosg on Aug 22, 2012 12:14:58 GMT -8
Can you describe how you rehydrate? A "lighter turquoise" sounds strange, the water stains in birdwings I know are brown. Can you post a picture?
Hannes
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Post by dertodesking on Aug 22, 2012 12:20:29 GMT -8
Hi,
My initial thought was that the butterflies were getting too wet during the rehydration process but, as Hannes has said, this is normally a brown-coloured discolouration...also, I've never found this (or heard of it) with urvillianus (it's more common in victoriae if you don't get to them in time).
Could you post a 'photo so that we can see what you're experiencing?
Simon
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Post by wingedwishes on Aug 23, 2012 6:31:58 GMT -8
Is it possible, I'm just asking, that they were flooded with UV light to turn a normal green priamus to a blue urvillianus and now there is blotching due to that? I've never seen a "Blue Blown" UV birdwing so I don't know. Oh and welcome DafodilDeb. I seem to remember you from way back on the old server.
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Post by simosg on Aug 23, 2012 9:56:31 GMT -8
If flooded with UV light, it would get blue all over where the light comes to. Here a picture I have taken in a museum. The priamus and the victoriae must have been a long time there in the sun, when the tithonus, chimaera, paradisea and goliath must be newer to there. The victoriae looks spectacular, like form niclasi I think. Unserious sellers could make a lot of money with this specimen. Hannes Attachments:
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Post by dertodesking on Aug 24, 2012 13:27:23 GMT -8
Is it possible, I'm just asking, that they were flooded with UV light to turn a normal green priamus to a blue urvillianus and now there is blotching due to that? I've never seen a "Blue Blown" UV birdwing so I don't know. Oh and welcome DafodilDeb. I seem to remember you from way back on the old server. Hi Winged, In my opinion that's unlikely...the blue UV-faked examples I've seen tend to be of more "blue ribbon" species...especially O. goliath. I think it's unlikely the scammers would go to the trouble of faking a priamus to look like a common bug like urvillianus when they could make a blue goliath or victoriae. You're more likely to make serious money if you sell a couple of blue goliath specimens than a priamus made to look like urvillianus that would go for $25 max. Just my opinion though... Simon |
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Post by dertodesking on Aug 24, 2012 13:29:25 GMT -8
If flooded with UV light, it would get blue all over where the light comes to. Here a picture I have taken in a museum. The priamus and the victoriae must have been a long time there in the sun, when the tithonus, chimaera, paradisea and goliath must be newer to there. The victoriae looks spectacular, like form niclasi I think. Unserious sellers could make a lot of money with this specimen. Hannes Hi Hannes, Nice 'photo. Do you think the victoriae is entirely due to exposure to sunlight? If it is it hasn't changed colour uniformly... Simon |
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Post by daffodildeb on Aug 28, 2012 9:30:36 GMT -8
Oops--for some reason I didn't get a notice that replies had been posted! I will try to get some photos. Yes, the blue is a lighter turquoise, definitely not brown (although I know what you mean).
I did rewet the lighter patches and allowed them to air dry, and that actually helped a great deal. No light (UV or otherwise) ever hit the wings, other than during the few minutes while spreading, unless it was done before I ever got them. I spread using the upside-down method, so even while pinned they were not exposed. This has been a problem I've experienced before, with other suppliers' birdwings.
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Post by dertodesking on Aug 30, 2012 13:20:45 GMT -8
I did rewet the lighter patches and allowed them to air dry, and that actually helped a great deal. Hi Deb, Out of interest how are you "wetting" the patches? (i.e. by re-relaxing the bug or applying liquid directly to the wings). Simon |
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Post by indowings on Aug 30, 2012 14:41:10 GMT -8
I'm curious: how long would a specimen need to be placed under a UV light source (like a lamp) before this blue colour change became noticeable? Does anyone have experience with this?
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Post by simosg on Aug 31, 2012 4:11:39 GMT -8
simon: Probably the yellow scales don't get blue in UV light, or they need longer. Hannes
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Post by dertodesking on Sept 1, 2012 12:32:23 GMT -8
I'm curious: how long would a specimen need to be placed under a UV light source (like a lamp) before this blue colour change became noticeable? Does anyone have experience with this? Hi Indo, I've never done it (nor would I) so have no personal experience but there was a post on the old boards which said that it could be achieved in three days... www.insectnet.com/cgi/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=612&forum=DCForumID26(If the link doesn't work do a search in the old forum for "blue ornithoptera fakes"). Simon |
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Post by indowings on Sept 1, 2012 15:29:15 GMT -8
Hi Simon,
thanks for you reply. I'm interested in seeing the effects on some old poseidon I have (bad specimens that I am going to throw away). Thanks for the link. I wonder what strength the light source was to achieve this?
David.
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Post by dertodesking on Sept 3, 2012 12:29:28 GMT -8
Hi David, I'm afraid that I've got no idea of the strength of UV needed to effect a change - my only knowledge comes from the thread I previously linked to. I'm pretty certain Laurie, the author of that thread, is a current member and as he was the OP of the earlier thread he may have more knowledge and if so will hopefully post it here. Good luck with the experiment - I'd be interested to see the results of your experiment (before and after UV exposure) if you do it...and by the way, don't throw your butterflies away - give them to me!  Simon |
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Post by indowings on Sept 4, 2012 14:04:44 GMT -8
Hahaha - Simon I would gladly give away some old poseidon if there wasn't that annoying CITES problem!
I've ordered a reptile UV light to see what results that gives me. If anything good comes of it I'll post some pictures.
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