aaron
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Post by aaron on Sept 9, 2018 14:13:45 GMT -8
Hi everyone!
Im Aaron!
This is a total newbie question but I cant seem to find any info on the topic.
I have a bit of an older collection of Phasmida that I mounted about 20 years ago. I mounted the specimens between two pieces of glass surrounded with wooden frames I made. I have been moving around for the past few years and the frames were tucked away all that time. Now that I've settled... I was looking to hang the frames again. I was bummed to see that all my insects had lost all their color and turned brown. Everything is still intact just the color has changed.
I was wondering if this is just a normal event, an environmental issue (too damp or too dry), or should I have treated the specimens with some kind of spray before mounting onto the glass?
They are still beautiful and plan to keep but I am definitely going to be collecting more specimens and mount them in a similar way.... Just want to make sure Im going about it the right way!
Thank you all in advance!
Very excited to be here
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Post by joachim on Sept 9, 2018 14:45:27 GMT -8
hi, do you have a photo of it including the glass ?
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aaron
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Post by aaron on Sept 9, 2018 15:23:15 GMT -8
hi, do you have a photo of it including the glass ? Hey Joachim! Thanks for the reply... Yes here is a few pics of one. Not exactly sure of the species....anchiale maculata? I just removed all the frames and noticed the plastic tags I mounted on the frames were sitting on the bottom of the box SIGH LOL! The frame isn't so great on this one... Im a MUCH better carpenter these days!  Attachments:
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aaron
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Post by aaron on Sept 9, 2018 15:24:06 GMT -8
hi, do you have a photo of it including the glass ? Attachments:
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Post by Paul K on Sept 9, 2018 17:03:09 GMT -8
The main reason why colours are fading are UV rays, specimens should always be kept in the dark room or in the cabinets away from sun light.
Some species are naturally changing colours with aging and in this case there is nothing we can do to stop it.
Paul
PS. Welcome to Insectnet.
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aaron
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Post by aaron on Sept 9, 2018 17:24:46 GMT -8
The main reason why colours are fading are UV rays, specimens should always be kept in the dark room or in the cabinets away from sun light. Some species are naturally changing colours with aging and in this case there is nothing we can do to stop it. Paul PS. Welcome to Insectnet. Hi Paul! Thanks... so glad to be here. So the frames have been in storage for the past 10 years. When I wrapped them up they were colorful. They were in a basement for a few years... I wonder if the moisture got to them? I would assume they would be moldy if that were the case though... |
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Post by exoticimports on Sept 9, 2018 17:32:02 GMT -8
Many types of insects will change or lose color. Reasons vary by the type of insect. Sunlight is the #1 killer, fading everything. Body oils and grease darken some. Others simply fade, no matter what. Phasmids like that tend to turn brown rather quickly. Dragonflies lose color, the solution is to put the fresh specimen in acetone, which preserves some color. Much of the solution to the problem has yet to be identified. Try preserving colors in fish, that will make you appreciate your brown phasmids.
Chuck
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aaron
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Post by aaron on Sept 9, 2018 20:31:24 GMT -8
Many types of insects will change or lose color. Reasons vary by the type of insect. Sunlight is the #1 killer, fading everything. Body oils and grease darken some. Others simply fade, no matter what. Phasmids like that tend to turn brown rather quickly. Dragonflies lose color, the solution is to put the fresh specimen in acetone, which preserves some color. Much of the solution to the problem has yet to be identified. Try preserving colors in fish, that will make you appreciate your brown phasmids. Chuck Thank you Chuck for your response! It does make me feel better that its a natural process. Does exposure to air cause the process to speed up? I do have a much older specimen in a sealed plexiglass box that is still very green... it also looks as though it has been sprayed with some kind of sealer. LOL Couldn't imagine trying to preserve fish... |
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Post by joachim on Sept 11, 2018 4:07:41 GMT -8
Yes that´s the reasons. I had a beautiful Artidae in my collection and when I looked at it many years ago I thought it is a new unknown species. But, just the colors fade. All other ones in the box are okay, I also have some oiled butterflies which changed the colors after some years. It is as Paul said, the colors are not forever. ( Also in Museums the very old specimens haven´t the color as they had when they were caught.
joachim
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Sept 11, 2018 4:28:44 GMT -8
My entire collection of Lepidoptera is stored in Cornell drawers. The drawers are in metal museum storage cabinets which are air tight (To keep out dermestidae) and "Light Tight" to prevent color fade.
I have specimens that I collected in the 1960's & 1970's that look like I collected them this summer.
Also, keeping humidity very low also helps reduce color fading.
I am always amazed at the number of collectors who collect specimens and mount them and only leave them on the spreading boards for a week or less. I leave all my specimens on spreading boards for 30+ days. This prevents wing droop or movement. I have always liked perfectly spread specimens.
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Post by mothman27 on Sept 11, 2018 5:08:19 GMT -8
Mine are on the board 7-10 days if fresh and around 3 days if papered previously. Of course I leave large specimens longer and some insects that do not dry easily like some beetles and hymenoptera. The main reason is that I don't have enough pinning boards to leave them longer and I don't have the space to keep more pinning board right now. Also, I get impatient wanting to see the specimen in the collection. I don't have the ability to keep my collection very dry all the time so occasionally some specimens droop during the humid summer months. I do admit it annoys me and I really do like specimens that are pinned perfectly.
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Post by joachim on Sept 11, 2018 5:37:33 GMT -8
mothman27 : The same with me. I have no space to keep the boards for longer. All the specimens I have so far in my little collection which are 30 or 40 years old did not change. I just had a papered Attacus atlas female and after 2 days it was ready. ( I inject water ) Of course I am also impatient. In Winter, when the heating is on, I put the board onto it and it dries very quickly. Joachim
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aaron
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Post by aaron on Sept 11, 2018 13:57:30 GMT -8
My entire collection of Lepidoptera is stored in Cornell drawers. The drawers are in metal museum storage cabinets which are air tight (To keep out dermestidae) and "Light Tight" to prevent color fade. I have specimens that I collected in the 1960's & 1970's that look like I collected them this summer. Also, keeping humidity very low also helps reduce color fading. I am always amazed at the number of collectors who collect specimens and mount them and only leave them on the spreading boards for a week or less. I leave all my specimens on spreading boards for 30+ days. This prevents wing droop or movement. I have always liked perfectly spread specimens. Thank you! I use to breed dermestids... Had an articulation business awhile ago. Was always amazed they never got into the house to eat... well... everything! |
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aaron
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Post by aaron on Sept 11, 2018 14:00:31 GMT -8
Excellent tips. Ive got lots to learn. Really looking forward to getting started again! Looks like ill have to start over with the collection but I'm excited!
Other than the mounting...
Need to create an air tight environment
Definitely using UV glass this time
I use a UV spray in my art work... perhaps it will be well suited to seal and protect the specimens?
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Post by boghaunter1 on Dec 11, 2018 9:04:54 GMT -8
Hi aaron,
Go to YouTube & search for insect preparation videos by Insect Safari. He is a very experienced insect collector/teacher. He has very detailed videos (~ 20+ minutes ea.) showing proper mounting techniques for all kinds of insects, including large stick insects... he shows how to gut & stuff the abdomens (freshly deceased only) which helps to preserve body colors. I don't think this can be done with previously dried specimens, however... If you are an artist you might be able to use watercolor paints to bring back some of the body colors? Truthfully... Not much you can do for older specimens, but useful info in these videos to help mount up new specimens. Every serious insect collector should, IMHO, watch these insect prep. videos. Good Luck!
John K.
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