Ornithoptera degreasing success!

[mosca1]

Before:





 I used a product called Fuelite.  Evaporates slower than acetone and ethyl acetate so no curling of the wings.

[mosca1]

After:

[Zeiss]

It looks like it did the job! Very well done.

Although, it might have been better to post these in the same post, instead of making two separate ones: just for future reference.

[Adam Cotton]

I merged and edited the threads accordingly.

Adam.

[mosca1]

Apr 5, 2018 22:22:41 GMT Adam Cotton said:

I merged and edited the threads accordingly.

Adam.

Thanks Adam!  I tried but couldn't get both in the one post.

[africaone]

Apr 5, 2018 20:45:58 GMT mosca1 said:

After:

how do you do it technically ?

[jmg]

Fuelite ? is it this product : www.tmkpackers.co.nz/index.php/site/product/fuelite

I have 2 or 3 Morphos who need a such treatment !

[Paul K]

I should give it a try if I could only find it here in Canada.
When I use acetone usually I have to respread specimen due to curled wing tips.

Paul

[deliasfanatic]

I've used Coleman Fuel with good success; I suspect that it's similar. I don't know if it's sold outside the US, but it's intended for portable heaters used while camping, etc. I believe it's the same type of product that's known here as "white gasoline".

[Adam Cotton]

Apr 6, 2018 0:31:25 GMT mosca1 said:

Thanks Adam!  I tried but couldn't get both in the one post.

What you should have done was create a thread "Ornithoptera degreasing success", put "Before" in the text, followed by the photo, and post the thread. Next click "Reply" at top right of the "Quick Reply" window below the post, put "After" in the text, followed by the photo, and post that. You can only attach one photo per post, but if your photos are already online elsewhere you can post more than one link and then both photos would appear in the same post.

Adam.

[mosca1]

Apr 6, 2018 8:56:23 GMT jmg said:

Fuelite ? is it this product : www.tmkpackers.co.nz/index.php/site/product/fuelite

I have 2 or 3 Morphos who need a such treatment !

That's the one . 

[mosca1]

Apr 6, 2018 16:56:38 GMT Adam Cotton said:

Apr 6, 2018 0:31:25 GMT mosca1 said:

Thanks Adam!  I tried but couldn't get both in the one post.

What you should have done was create a thread "Ornithoptera degreasing success", put "Before" in the text, followed by the photo, and post the thread. Next click "Reply" at top right of the "Quick Reply" window below the post, put "After" in the text, followed by the photo, and post that. You can only attach one photo per post, but if your photos are already online elsewhere you can post more than one link and then both photos would appear in the same post.

Adam.

Thanks for the helpful advice Adam, as always.

[mosca1]

Apr 6, 2018 7:56:35 GMT africaone said:

Apr 5, 2018 20:45:58 GMT mosca1 said:

After:

how do you do it technically ?

I carefully remove the pin then immerse the specimen upside down in about 5 to 7 cm of liquid. Personally I prefer to not remove the abdomen but this could be degreased separately.  I have found a shallow glass food storage container with a plastic lid work bests.  While the lid doesn't totally prevent evaporation, it slows it down.  Sometimes the grease/oil is gone in as little as an hour or two but often immersing for 24 hours or so is needed.  If you have an extra stubborn stain adding 25% ethyl acetate or acetone helps.  It may be necessary to change the liquid once or twice to fully "rinse" the specimen.  Aiding drying using a little air puffer used to remove dust from camera lenses immediately the specimen is removed keeps any hair from looking wet or matted/tangled.  

[Adam Cotton]

Apr 6, 2018 21:07:00 GMT mosca1 said:

Aiding drying using a little air puffer used to remove dust from camera lenses immediately the specimen is removed keeps any hair from looking wet or matted/tangled.  

Great tip, also for wet specimens out of the relaxing box.

Adam.