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Post by autiger85 on Apr 13, 2011 11:08:50 GMT -8
Someone asked about preserving caterpillars in another forum and I described how I do it using silicon caulk. I thought I would post some of my specimen here to show how they look. If anyone else has some they would like to share feel free to post them here. ![]() [/img] |
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Post by autiger85 on Apr 13, 2011 11:19:32 GMT -8
Ok, someone tell me how to add a photo, please. I tried doing an attachment and tried using the "add a image" icon. I checked the help page but didn't see the topic.
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Post by papilio28570 on Apr 13, 2011 18:07:59 GMT -8
The photos might be too large. Go to your picture album and place the cursor over the thumbnail and you should have a little window pop up to tell you how much memory the photo takes up.
I have photo software to reduce pictures to less than 50 kilobites
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Post by dertodesking on Apr 14, 2011 3:20:52 GMT -8
Ok, someone tell me how to add a photo, please. I tried doing an attachment and tried using the "add a image" icon. I checked the help page but didn't see the topic. Hi, It depends "where" you have the photo stored. If it's in a folder on your hard drive you should be able to add by searching for the desired image using the "browse" button next to the "attachment" line at the top of the new message screen. A note of caution with this - they are size limited and I believe for some reason "detach" themselves from the message if you choose to preview your post...so if you do preview you'll have to attach the image again. Your other option is to upload your image to one of the many image hosting sites on the net. If you do that you should be able to cut and paste the url for the image into the actual body text of the message itself. Let me know if you still have trouble - you could email me the picture(s) and I'll give it a go if you still have problems  Simon |
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Post by autiger85 on Apr 14, 2011 18:34:20 GMT -8
I did preview the first posting so perhaps that is what happened to the photo. The photos I want to post are all under 100 KB. I placed one as an attachment to this post so I hope this time it works. Thanks for the help everyone.
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Post by autiger85 on Apr 14, 2011 18:36:41 GMT -8
Yeah, it took! Here are some other larva I preserved with silicon caulk.
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Post by autiger85 on Apr 14, 2011 18:38:05 GMT -8
... and one last one.
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steve
Full Member
Posts: 231
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Post by steve on Apr 14, 2011 19:24:35 GMT -8
That is amazing. What is the technique? Are they painted?
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Post by papilio28570 on Apr 14, 2011 22:29:36 GMT -8
Wow...now that is impressive! I am amazed by the color preservation. Have you done any Saturniidae larva?
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Post by johnnyboy on Apr 15, 2011 1:29:08 GMT -8
Great specimens! The three I've pictured are, from back to forepicture, convolvulous hawkmoth, deathshead hawkmoth and lappet moth larvae.
These were all freeze dried, I buy them from some guys at the AES fair in London, they're technique preserves caterpillars perfectly.
Johnny
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Post by saturniidave on Apr 15, 2011 9:07:55 GMT -8
Yes, I saw those Johnny, they are very good. It is not at all easy to freeze dry larvae like that, we had a freeze dryer at the museum where I worked and despite several attempts we never did crack it. The hard thing is to get them to stay in a natural position when you freeze them initially.
Dave
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Post by autiger85 on Apr 15, 2011 12:06:11 GMT -8
Thanks, I am rather proud of them. No they are not painted. I could never be as good an artist as nature. They are filled with silicon caulking. I kill the larva in my acetone (fingernail polish remover) jar and then cut a small slit just in front of the rectum, back to it. I then squeeze out the body fluids and fill the body with silicon caulk. The type for caulking around windows or bathroom caulking that comes in the smaller size tubes for squeezing with the hands not the large tubes for use with a caulking gun, is what you need. I have used both white and the clear 100% silicon. Use the pointed tip that comes with the tube for large larva or a disposable syringe for smaller caterpillars. Fill the body right after squeezing it out and fill it slowly so any air can escape. You need to put a pin through the specimen while the caulk is still soft. Just pin the specimen to the spreading board and let the caulk set.
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Post by 58chevy on Apr 20, 2011 12:40:37 GMT -8
Amazing! I wonder if the same technique could be used to preserve color in odonates?
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Post by downundermoths on Apr 20, 2011 14:02:41 GMT -8
autiger85...Those are fabulous results... You are, dear lady, a pioneer and teacher to us old fuddy duddies... Thank you for this method
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Post by autiger85 on Apr 25, 2011 17:36:39 GMT -8
Why Thank You, Downunder, that is quite a compliment for me.
58Chevy - I have tried it and other methods for odonates and it won't preserve their color. I have not found any way to keep them lifelike.
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