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Post by johnml on Nov 22, 2017 8:20:15 GMT
I will be going,the last two have been quite good.
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Post by wollastoni on Dec 4, 2017 12:56:13 GMT
Nice Euxanthe ! Which species / locality ?
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Post by trehopr1 on Dec 4, 2017 17:46:06 GMT
How will you remove the stains on both of the male birdwings wings? I presume acetone but, will the chemical at all affect the structural colors? I know water staining on the wings of birdwings is basically irreversible. I've heard this mentioned several times here as well as on the other forum.
I don't dabble with acetone as the one time I did it ruined the dark black pigmented color of a black witch moth which greased up on me to some extent. Hence, I toss out any greasers which pop up in my collection. Of coarse, most of the time I'm dealing with rather commonplace things that can be replaced. Birdwings are a whole different matter as you are paying for them and even now most do not come cheaply.
I have only sourced my small collection of birdwings (15) from old collections. That is where I have never failed in getting choice examples. I never buy them papered as there are too many possible detracting issues which can be present. A friend of mine has about 40 of them of which 90% were purchased as papered and I would say there are only about 10 of those 40 which I would actually of kept ! The rest have various noticeable wing mars, greasing, flattened abdomens and even a few with wing wrinkling -- as though they had not completely dried their wings properly before being dispatched.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 4, 2017 18:16:52 GMT
and even a few with wing wrinkling -- as though they had not completely dried their wings properly before being dispatched ... which is almost certainly the cause of the described appearance. Many birdwings are reared and killed as soon as they emerge from the pupa. Unfortunately they are often killed before they are completely dry, which ruins them right from the start. This problem can often be seen in butterflies that are reared for deadstock. The local breeder wants to ensure they do not fly and rub themeselves as a result, and often kills them too quickly as a result. Not only do many of these specimens have wrinkled wings, but when softened for spreading the whole wings just flop as the veins had not hardened properly before they were killed. Adam. |
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Post by nomad on Dec 4, 2017 19:51:24 GMT
Water strains are irreversible and usually happens in the relaxing box or with a hypodermic syringe.
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Post by trehopr1 on Dec 5, 2017 6:00:25 GMT
I was merely curious to know if there was some method in place to correct such stains. Thought you might know of something. The question was not mea'nt to be a dig at your standards. Obviously, there are others who share your sentiments and that's fine and well. As long as your enjoying the hobby in your own way then that is what is important.
I happen to hold a high standard for my collection because for me that is part of the challenge of collecting anything. Since, I see insects as a re-newable resource which is present year after year; I can therefore be picky about what I keep. If I don't get it this year or I don't get it this time than I may get it sometime down the road. If I never get it than that's ok because I don't obsess about having any particular species. I just like my things a "cut above the usual" stuff -- in quality.
I don't feel as though I'm missing out on anything. I don't chase rarities because I cannot afford them. I don't fill drawer upon drawer with crazy long series because I like variety and I don't specialize on any one group. My myriad books on this subject enlighten me along with this forum; and if anything I'm happy to disseminate any knowledge that I may have gained through my many years of passion and dedication to the hobby.
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Post by nomad on Dec 5, 2017 7:49:33 GMT
Seeing that I only collect Delias I am "forever" being offered rare things with chips, flight wear, missing antennae (and the prices I might add are still very expensive). The perfect goodies being kept. Dealers/collectors (the latter that sell things) still need to sell their lesser quality material! As as for perfect specimens, not being able to go to New Guinea or its Islands, I have to look for better scarce things at fairs but quite difficult as there are Delias collectors there beforehand.  The trouble with buying papered things A1, they are not usually that, as many like to believe they have A1 specimens but they are certainly not that at all. As you collection is your passion, its up to you what you will put in it, however I like to be able to put in at least some nice presentable material, I am "trying" to move away from lesser quality specimens. |
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Post by nomad on Dec 5, 2017 19:05:46 GMT
I quite agree most have a budget of what we can afford and I fall well within that bracket. What I meant is that many lesser quality rare Delias are offered at very high prices, some are four figures, and for this amount you should be able to buy "only" the "best" quality specimens without any flaws. So rather than rarity chase, I will concentrate on the more common Delias and those that I can get at reasonable prices in good condition.  |
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Post by deliasfanatic on Dec 5, 2017 19:34:56 GMT
My thought has always been that if I wait for an A1 specimen of every rare taxon, I will be missing a very much larger proportion of taxa than is otherwise possible, and there is a good chance that they will never turn up, ever, in perfect condition.
For commonly available specimens, of course it's no problem to accept only the best if another one is available in a day or a week. I feel the same in that regard.
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Post by nomad on Dec 6, 2017 10:13:19 GMT
Danny, from what I have seen of your magnificent collection of Delias , the quality and rarity is the best I have seen and I could easily incorporate any of it into my collection.  |
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Post by nomad on Dec 6, 2017 13:38:48 GMT
Why should you pay a four figure price or a very high price for a flawed Delias specimen, certainly not because you want a representative of every species or subspecies in your collection. The prices being asked for this type of specimen are way too high, you can understand if they were for a good quality specimen but not for a bad one. I have quite a few rare Delias in my collection, some are certainly not A1. However, a collection is a personal thing and when you look at it you want to be able to be satisfied with what you are achieving for your own pleasure! It is not in my opinion about just filling in the blanks with something that you are not really happy with and are going to look at until the end of days.
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Post by deliasfanatic on Dec 6, 2017 14:43:43 GMT
Danny, from what I have seen of your magnificent collection of Delias , the quality and rarity is the best I have seen and I could easily incorporate any of it into my collection. Thanks - but there are numerous imperfect specimens among them! |
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Post by deliasfanatic on Dec 6, 2017 14:57:45 GMT
Why should you pay a four figure price or a very high price for a flawed Delias specimen, certainly not because you want a representative of every species or subspecies in your collection. The prices being asked for this type of specimen are way too high, you can understand if they were for a good quality specimen but not for a bad one. I have quite a few rare Delias in my collection, some are certainly not A1. However, a collection is a personal thing and when you look at it you want to be able to be satisfied with what you are achieving for your own pleasure! It is not in my opinion about just filling in the blanks with something that you are not really happy with and are going to look at until the end of days. Well, it depends on what it is for me. A good example would be an extremely rare Delias species of which I have one of only three known specimens, and it's a paratype. It's known only from the type series. My specimen has a prominent and unattractive stain on one HW, yet I decided to buy it (at a very high price) since it was unlikely that I'd ever see another one. That said, I collect more from a scientific viewpoint than from a beauty viewpoint - although of course I do appreciate the beauty very much. I think that's the reason that most of us begin collecting, and I will always choose the nicer of two specimens for my collection unless there is a reason to choose the other (or both) such as location, unusual markings, etc. I don't collect Agrias seriously, but I do like them and dabble with them now and then. They're the only group for which I'm fussy to the point that I won't accept any damage at all. They're so beautiful that flaws damage their appeal to me, and since I'm not trying to get every one, I take only the best. |
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Post by nomad on Dec 6, 2017 15:34:04 GMT
I quite agree, specimens that are types or caught by Meek or other famous collectors whatever the condition would be the most valued specimens in any Delias collection. My most prized specimen is my example of D. Caliban, caught by one of the great collectors of modern times. It has a minor hindwing tear but it seems to be quite different from other females I have seen and I am very pleased to own it.
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The trouble with buying papered things A1, they are not usually that, as many like to believe they have A1 specimens but they are certainly not that at all. As you collection is your passion, its up to you what you will put in it, however I like to be able to put in at least some nice presentable material, I am "trying" to move away from lesser quality specimens. 
