Tips on relaxing butterflies for a new collector.

[impairbear]

Hi guys,

First post from a new member here! In fact, this is the first forum I have joined so apologies if I make any mistakes etc.

I have just purchased my first dried and papered butterfly (Cymothoe Reinholdi) and am currently attempting to relax him for spreading. I have put him in the relaxing chamber from Watkins and Doncaster which has a sponge at the bottom of the tub. I have read a lot of information on what solutions to use etc and it seems everyone has their own methods.

I wanted to try to relax him with nothing but water - possibly my first mistake. So I have used a spray bottle to mist the sponge and have had him in there for 48 hours now. Although when I try to separate the wings, he still feels quite rigid. Although I'm not sure if I'm just being too cautious and nervous because I don't want to damage him.

Do you think my issues are stemming from the fact that I have used nothing but water? Is it possible to relax a butterfly using plain tap water?

Thank you in advance for your help, and apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place.

[deliasfanatic]

I always use plain water, but keep mothballs (naphtha) in the container to discourage mold.

My first guess is that you don't have enough moisture in the container. Wet the sponge thoroughly, then wring it out until it's still wet but not "dripping wet". If it's just slightly damp, it's not enough.

I leave specimens in their envelopes, but I open the latter to allow full humidity to reach them. Some will set them directly onto the wet sponge/cloth, etc. but I've never felt good about doing it that way. A specimen the size and type of your Cymothoe should be softened in about 2 days. It's a good idea to check sooner, however; some specimens, particularly African, occasionally have rotted muscles and they'll fall apart if left to relax for more than a few hours.

[impairbear]

May 9, 2019 17:30:57 GMT deliasfanatic said:

I always use plain water, but keep mothballs (naphtha) in the container to discourage mold.

My first guess is that you don't have enough moisture in the container. Wet the sponge thoroughly, then wring it out until it's still wet but not "dripping wet". If it's just slightly damp, it's not enough.

I leave specimens in their envelopes, but I open the latter to allow full humidity to reach them. Some will set them directly onto the wet sponge/cloth, etc. but I've never felt good about doing it that way. A specimen the size and type of your Cymothoe should be softened in about 2 days. It's a good idea to check sooner, however; some specimens, particularly African, occasionally have rotted muscles and they'll fall apart if left to relax for more than a few hours.

That’s brill, thank you. I was worried with all the info I have been reading that water alone would not be enough.

Also, having never done this before, I’m not sure how ‘soft’ he should feel.

I managed to open the wings quite far but heard a slight cracking or snapping sound and panicked so I put him back in, fearing that I may break something.

[Paul K]

May 9, 2019 17:41:18 GMT impairbear said:

May 9, 2019 17:30:57 GMT deliasfanatic said:

I always use plain water, but keep mothballs (naphtha) in the container to discourage mold.

My first guess is that you don't have enough moisture in the container. Wet the sponge thoroughly, then wring it out until it's still wet but not "dripping wet". If it's just slightly damp, it's not enough.

I leave specimens in their envelopes, but I open the latter to allow full humidity to reach them. Some will set them directly onto the wet sponge/cloth, etc. but I've never felt good about doing it that way. A specimen the size and type of your Cymothoe should be softened in about 2 days. It's a good idea to check sooner, however; some specimens, particularly African, occasionally have rotted muscles and they'll fall apart if left to relax for more than a few hours.

That’s brill, thank you. I was worried with all the info I have been reading that water alone would not be enough.

Also, having never done this before, I’m not sure how ‘soft’ he should feel.

I managed to open the wings quite far but heard a slight cracking or snapping sound and panicked so I put him back in, fearing that I may break something.

You may hear cracking sound at the point when they are almost opened. for larger butterflies before I open wings I usually gently press with forceps thorax near the wings joints, it helps to break the muscles tension, also you may need to work out the wings up and down and forward ( forewings only ) to make them more flexible when spreading on the board.
Best way to practice on some common species in your area so there is no heart broken when something wrong happen to the precious specimen.

[deliasfanatic]

I agree, it would be a good idea to practice with a few common or damaged specimens.

Re: cracking sound, you'll normally hear a small "click", but if it sounds like something snapped, that's not good news. It does take practice to get a feel for a well-relaxed specimen. It will never be as soft and flexible as when it was fresh. I do the same as Paul with flexing the wings with forceps; grip them gently next to the wing bases to do this. They will want to spring back to their closed position until they're held down with mounting strips on the board.

[Ed]

I also like to do the mentioned above and in some instances will also sever the muscles inside of the thorax of larger specimens but that a little more for those with more experience.

[luehdorfia]

Another thing that you can do which is easy even for beginners and you can’t do much wrong. After relaxing the specimen for a day, use a syringe and inject hot water into the body, until the water flows out where the legs are attached to the body, then put the specimen back into the relaxing chamber for another one or two hours, that normally really helps a lot with buffer specimen, and since you see how much you inject you won’t hurt the wings with water stains.

[impairbear]

Thank you everyone, really appreciate all the advice. He’s back in the relaxing chamber at the moment, will check on him tomorrow.

I think it was more of a click than a snap, just surprised and worried me slightly, so it’s good to know this is normal.

[impairbear]

Just to keep you all informed, first attempt at spreading did not go as planned. I’m sure everyone struggles on their first attempt.
Unfortunately one of the wings has come off.
I have another in the relaxing chamber as we speak with a little more water as I think the issue with the first was that he just wasn’t quite hydrated enough.

[ren]

This is the way I have done it; it seems to work ok (I am new to this):

[Paul K]

You can still spread the specimen and properly position loose wing on the spreading board secured with what ever you use to hold the wings. Use white glue to attach wing to thorax.
If this job is done properly the fixing will be invisible.
It happened few times to me too but the error was quckly fixed.

[impairbear]

May 9, 2019 17:30:57 GMT deliasfanatic said:

I always use plain water, but keep mothballs (naphtha) in the container to discourage mold.

My first guess is that you don't have enough moisture in the container. Wet the sponge thoroughly, then wring it out until it's still wet but not "dripping wet". If it's just slightly damp, it's not enough.

I leave specimens in their envelopes, but I open the latter to allow full humidity to reach them. Some will set them directly onto the wet sponge/cloth, etc. but I've never felt good about doing it that way. A specimen the size and type of your Cymothoe should be softened in about 2 days. It's a good idea to check sooner, however; some specimens, particularly African, occasionally have rotted muscles and they'll fall apart if left to relax for more than a few hours.

Hey deliasfanatic quick question. How long can I use the same moth ball? When will I know to change it?

Also, when storing dried and set specimens before framing etc, do I need to keep a moth ball in there as well, or is it ok in an air tight container without one?

Thank you.

[Paul K]

May 31, 2019 23:45:21 GMT impairbear said:

May 9, 2019 17:30:57 GMT deliasfanatic said:

I always use plain water, but keep mothballs (naphtha) in the container to discourage mold.

My first guess is that you don't have enough moisture in the container. Wet the sponge thoroughly, then wring it out until it's still wet but not "dripping wet". If it's just slightly damp, it's not enough.

I leave specimens in their envelopes, but I open the latter to allow full humidity to reach them. Some will set them directly onto the wet sponge/cloth, etc. but I've never felt good about doing it that way. A specimen the size and type of your Cymothoe should be softened in about 2 days. It's a good idea to check sooner, however; some specimens, particularly African, occasionally have rotted muscles and they'll fall apart if left to relax for more than a few hours.

Hey deliasfanatic quick question. How long can I use the same moth ball? When will I know to change it?

Also, when storing dried and set specimens before framing etc, do I need to keep a moth ball in there as well, or is it ok in an air tight container without one?

Thank you.

Moth balls don’t have expire date, you can use them until they evaporate, then insert new one, it is necessary to keep something to protect specimens and even air tight container is never 100% pest free.

Paul

[impairbear]

Jun 1, 2019 0:57:23 GMT Paul K said:

May 31, 2019 23:45:21 GMT impairbear said:

Hey deliasfanatic quick question. How long can I use the same moth ball? When will I know to change it?

Also, when storing dried and set specimens before framing etc, do I need to keep a moth ball in there as well, or is it ok in an air tight container without one?

Thank you.

Moth balls don’t have expire date, you can use them until they evaporate, then insert new one, it is necessary to keep something to protect specimens and even air tight container is never 100% pest free.

Paul

Perfect, thank you Paul. I love having access to this forum, you guys are so helpful!

[rumina]

I've read that some collectors use alcohol to relax their specimens. Theoretically this should work because it certainly relaxes me.