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Post by joseph27 on Apr 26, 2020 0:35:25 GMT -8
Hello everyone!
I noticed that after unpinning my specimens from the spreading board, the wings would usually start curving down and the area between the forewing and hindwing would also start to warp. I am using a bioquip angled spreading board if that is important. The wings are not "dropping" down from the thorax, but the wings themselves are changing shape and are not staying flat. I leave my specimens to dry for at least a week. I was wondering if anyone else had this issue or could help me solve the problem. Thank you.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2020 6:10:49 GMT -8
Leave them on longer. I keep mine on the board for 3 weeks.
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Post by Paul K on Apr 26, 2020 6:33:08 GMT -8
Some of my freshly spread specimen curl the wings too even when I kept them for 2 or 3 weeks. Not sure why and what is depend on that it is occur.
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Post by 58chevy on Apr 26, 2020 9:11:34 GMT -8
Never remove them from the spreading board on a humid day. Wait until the humidity has been low for several days in a row.
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Post by Paul K on Apr 26, 2020 11:51:05 GMT -8
Never remove them from the spreading board on a humid day. Wait until the humidity has been low for several days in a row. Interesting point, have to keep my eye on it next time. |
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Post by laurie1 on Apr 26, 2020 20:05:10 GMT -8
Never remove them from the spreading board on a humid day. Wait until the humidity has been low for several days in a row. Interesting point, have to keep my eye on it next time. Regardless of what we do, eventually wings and/or antennae will move. In life (as in death) nothing is constant. It's ever changing. And remember, butterfly wings were never designed to do what we want them to do  . Accept the beauty for what it is. What you created by your careful setting and by using the best methods you have learned and can learn. The rest... well, it's not all within our control. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2020 7:03:41 GMT -8
Just out of curiosity.......do you use heat to accelerate drying? If so, set board as is out to reach room temp for a couple of hours. Removing warm specimens off board into normal temps can cause wing curling as well. I do this when I use my laboratory grade incubator to accelerate drying.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Apr 27, 2020 10:41:34 GMT -8
Now I will admit, I have steam heated floors. My humidity is extremely low. I also have AC and my humidity is extremely low.
All of my collection is stored in Cornell Drawers inside Museum Entomology Cabinets (air tight & Light tight.
I also have a museum storage cabinet that has adjustable shelves. I use this cabinet to store spreading boards that are full of spread specimens. I also humidity strips to remove moisture and keeps the humidity at less than 5%.
Drooping is not a problem. However, there is that occasional specimens that just wants to b e different.
Large papered specimens and most larger frozen specimens go into the relaxer. Once soften, I cut the wing muscles with a surgical knife.
Even after all my procedures, I occasionally get a drooper.
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Post by joseph27 on Apr 30, 2020 10:38:37 GMT -8
Thank you everyone for the helpful advice. I will keep those things in mind next time and hopefully the problem will go away!
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Apr 30, 2020 12:30:26 GMT -8
I am going to add something here about "Spreading Boards". All of my Spreading Boards have a slight angle to prevent wing droop. Below is a link to the proper method to spread the wings of Lepidoptera. www.resourcefulentomology.com/spreading-boards |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2020 20:11:21 GMT -8
My boards do too Leroy. The ones made of wood, though, also have a thin layer of balsa wood sheeting glued to the top of the pine. I also have foam boards that are not adjustable with a slight angle upwards. Many years ago, Dr. Lee Miller explained this to me. As the lep ages and sags/droops ever so slightly, the wings end up being perfectly straight where as one mounted straight will look a bit drooped with age. I have seen boards, though, with way too much of an angle....almost like a weak V which is not ideal.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on May 1, 2020 10:03:33 GMT -8
I just counted my spreading boards, I own 112. I acquired twenty pieces Basswood 50+ years ago and I made 52 spreading boards of various sizes. I purchased 22 adjustable boards over the years for larger butterflies and large bodied moths. All of my Spreading Boards are 165°. The angle will prevent wing droop.
I also have twenty+ smaller boards for Micro's, Lyceanids, Colias and crescents.
I also have two travel cases with spreading boards of various sizes.
As mentioned above, all of my Spreading Boards are angled 165°.
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. Accept the beauty for what it is. What you created by your careful setting and by using the best methods you have learned and can learn. The rest... well, it's not all within our control.