bugsy
New Aurelian
Posts: 3
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Post by bugsy on Apr 14, 2023 4:53:38 GMT
As some may have experienced, it sometimes happens that the elytra of beetles killed and/or preserved in liquids (e.g. alcohol) will spread apart as they dry.
Does anyone know any methodology to prevent this from happening or to fix specimens where this has occurred? I've tried relaxing specimens so I can firmly keep the elytra pushed together as they re-dry, but they always seem to spread apart again.
Any help appreciated.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Apr 14, 2023 8:41:48 GMT
Interesting question, which I cannot answer definitively as I do not collect beetles. Hopefully someone with experience of this problem can advise.
One possibility that occurred to me would be using thread tied round the elytra and abdomen to hold the elytra in place and after drying undo the thread and remove it. I am not sure if that is practicable.
Adam.
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bugsy
New Aurelian
Posts: 3
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Post by bugsy on Apr 18, 2023 5:20:55 GMT
Interesting question, which I cannot answer definitively as I do not collect beetles. Hopefully someone with experience of this problem can advise. One possibility that occurred to me would be using thread tied round the elytra and abdomen to hold the elytra in place and after drying undo the thread and remove it. I am not sure if that is practicable. Adam.
Thanks. I've tried using pins to leverage a specimen so the elytra would be closed as it dried, but it didn't seem to change the outcome too much.
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