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Post by timmsyrj on Nov 7, 2013 8:45:04 GMT -8
Bill, gin also works for me too, only takes a couple of glasses and I'm well relaxed, far too relaxed to do any setting though so usually call it a night,
On a more serious note, I place my relaxing box on top of the lights on my marine fish tank, this heat really raises the humidity and charaxes are easy to set after 24 hrs. I too use TCP mixed in the water very weakly.
Rich
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Post by lordpandarus on Nov 9, 2013 2:00:13 GMT -8
you have to watch out water droplets don't form on the cover of the relaxing box and fall back on the wings creating water stains
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Post by papilio28570 on Nov 11, 2013 15:29:22 GMT -8
My technique for spreading thick body leps is first to leave them in the relaxing chamber for a couple days. I insert a pin through the thorax same as preparing the butterfly for mounting. I then test the wings to see if any stiffness remains. If there is stiffness, I lay the butterfly on its side and while holding the pin from below the thorax to control the specimen and then perforate the front and rear wing muscles numerous times with a #2 pin....like a sewing machine. 5 or 6 times in each muscle group works fine. Much more than that and you risk too much damage to the muscles. I picked this tip up from J. Holland's butterfly or moth book about 50 years ago.
As far as mold in the relaxing chamber, a member here posted a few years ago about using nothing but mouth wash to relax specimens and never experiencing a problem with mold. I switched because it sounded like a neat idea and I can report that it is wonderful. I have left specimens for up to a month and still no mold although after that amount of time the wings are too humidified to work with. I leave them out for about a hour top dry the wings in this case, but you may need to moisten the antennae on small specimens.
My relaxing chamber is simply a large plastic container with 5 to 6 layers of paper towel soaked in mouthwash and clear plastic is laid on top of the towels. Specimens are removed from their envelopes and placed on the plastic sheet. The plastic sheet is just a little smaller in area than the paper towel mat beneath it and care is taken to be sure no part of the specimen contacts the wet towels.
Bob
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Post by lordpandarus on Nov 12, 2013 20:21:29 GMT -8
what kind of mouthwash? I'd be a bit worried about all the chemicals and colorants
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Post by admin on Nov 13, 2013 0:10:46 GMT -8
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Post by anthony on Nov 13, 2013 8:53:37 GMT -8
Just time, water, moth crystals and patience. About three days is plenty.
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Post by papilio28570 on Nov 15, 2013 16:18:20 GMT -8
I use Listerine mouthwash. The original pale amber color. Works great and no discoloration noticed on white butterflies.
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Post by takahe on Nov 18, 2013 23:20:59 GMT -8
I tried the gin and it seemed to work well. Not much stiffness at all. I had expected this specimen to be really stiff.
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Post by vgashtarov on Dec 9, 2013 9:43:01 GMT -8
I inject some ammonia/water solution in the body with syringe for diabetics when I have problem. But N.B. ammonia change the colors - green and pink into yellow.
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