Color change

cabintom
Senior Member

Exploring Congo's Ituri Region

Posts: 449

Color change Nov 25, 2013 22:48:11 GMT -8

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Post by cabintom on Nov 25, 2013 22:48:11 GMT -8

Hi all! I'm new to the forums, new to collecting beetles, and new to central Africa. (I moved to the DRC a few months ago.) So please excuse my newbie question.

I recently caught several bright metallic green/green-blue beetles, unfortunately after setting them they've darkened to a rainbow of purple, pink, green and blue. They're still nice, but much duller. Is there a way to prevent this from happening? Or to reverse the change in coloration?

If pictures would be helpful I can upload some (I still have one live specimen with which to compare.)

Thanks!
Tom

johnnyboy
Senior Member

Posts: 405
Country: England

Color change Nov 27, 2013 5:40:23 GMT -8

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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 27, 2013 5:40:23 GMT -8

Tom,

Usually such a colour change is caused by grease from the beetle's body seeping into the wing cases. The pin often acts like the wick of a candle and helps draw the oily fat out of the insects body, letting it get into the structure of the surface and altering the coloration.

If you soak a specimen in gasoline for 24hrs you might find that the colour is restored.

Johnny

cabintom Senior Member Exploring Congo's Ituri Region Posts: 449	Color change Nov 27, 2013 7:10:32 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by cabintom on Nov 27, 2013 7:10:32 GMT -8 That makes sense. I was thinking they looked oily and had been wondering if I had handled them too much. I'll give the gasoline a try. Thanks for the reply! Tom

bandrow
Nabokov

Posts: 624

Color change Nov 27, 2013 21:03:50 GMT -8

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Post by bandrow on Nov 27, 2013 21:03:50 GMT -8

Greetings,

You can try soaking the specimens in ethyl acetate or acetone to degrease them - both work well. Both might take a little longer to work than gasoline, but are safer. And of course, if you choose to use gasoline - keep them outdoors, or at least well-ventilated, until completely dried - you don't want flammable beetles!

Cheers!
Bandrow

Post by cabintom on Nov 25, 2013 22:48:11 GMT -8

Post by johnnyboy on Nov 27, 2013 5:40:23 GMT -8

Post by cabintom on Nov 27, 2013 7:10:32 GMT -8

Post by bandrow on Nov 27, 2013 21:03:50 GMT -8