Lepidoptera Spreading Techniques Presented by Vernon E Evans

Lepidoptera Spreading Techniques Presented by Vernon E. Evans 9 April 2005 Utah Lepidopterist Society Meeting Click to proceed to next slide

Techniques discussed • Standard groove board spreading with pins • Vern’s upside down non-groove board method • Magnetic groove board spreading Click to proceed to next slide

But wait… First we need to… prepare the specimen. Click to proceed to next slide

The injection method • Take a syringe with warm water and inject it into the thorax of the specimen. Disadvantages Advantages 1. Fast way to prepare specimen for spreading. 1. Does not provide a completely relaxed specimen. 2. Very little setup preparation needed. 2. Sticking a syringe into a dried specimen could cause damage. 3. Easy to learn. Click to proceed to next slide

Click to proceed to next slide

Freezer method Click to proceed to next slide

Freezer method • All freshly emerged specimens and fresh field caught specimens are placed directly into the freezer to be spread soon thereafter. • Remove from freezer and let specimen thaw and spread. Advantages Disadvantages 1. No setup required. 2. No materials needed. 3. Fast and easy. 1. Potential problem with spouse when they find dead bugs near their food. 2. Specimen will eventually dehydrate and another method must be used. Click to proceed to next slide

Vern’s Relaxing chamber I utilize a relaxer similar to what others may use with only a few modifications for speed. Click to proceed to next slide

Vern’s Relaxing chamber Click to proceed to next slide

Differences in MY relaxer • I use only water on my multiple layers of paper towels. • I place my specimens directly onto the damp paper towels. • Data goes on a corresponding board in the same order the specimens are in the relaxer. Click to proceed to next slide

Differences in MY relaxer Click to proceed to next slide

Advantages of MY relaxer • Complete specimen is relaxed • Because specimen is in direct contact with moist towel re-hydration occurs very quickly. Time to re-hydrate Lycaenidae 20 -30 minutes Papilionidae 2 -3 hours Saturniidae 6 -10 hours Click to proceed to next slide

Possible disadvantages • You can not leave the specimens in the relaxer too long or mold will occur. • There is a possibility of the relaxer being disturbed while the specimens are in it and this would cause a problem since the data will no longer correspond with the specimen’s location in the relaxer. ** This have never happened to me. Click to proceed to next slide

Now onto the specimen spreading… Click to proceed to next slide

Standard groove board with pins This is the most commonly described way to spread lepidoptera. Materials needed: 1. Grooved spreading board 2. Pins 3. Paper strips 4. Don’t forget the Specimen. Click to proceed to next slide

Standard groove board with pins Don’t forget to get the bug! Click to proceed to next slide

Todd Stout is demonstrating this method with a pima orangetip Note: Sit back and watch slides for this technique. You do not need to click to next slide until prompted. Insert insectuses pin perpendicularly through Todd this device to Finished product!— Place pinned specimen into groove on thorax of butterfly with ¾ of pin penetrating Clear strips used to hold wings in desired Like such. Todd uses this device place Click to abdomen next slide to from prevent the mounting board. through butterfly and remaining above. positionthe with the help of¼ the pins. Here This he bug is putting is going it into nowhere!! place. the head antennae. falling into Click the to proceedgroove. to next slide

Magnetic grooved board This method is similar to the previous method. The major difference being the use of a metal spread board and magnets in place of pins to hold the wings in place until the specimen is dry. Materials needed: 1. Grooved METAL spreading board 2. Magnets and pins 3. Paper strips 4. Still need a specimen Click to proceed to next slide

Jack Harry is demonstrating this method with a nitra form anise swallowtail Note: Sit back and watch slides for this technique. You do not need to click to next slide until prompted. Finished product Click to proceed to next slide Click to proceed to next slide

Vern’s upside down non-groove board method This method breaks away from the traditional teachings somewhat. It is designed to take full advantage of the pronounced ventral side of the specimen. It optimizes space allotted on the spreading surface allowing you to spread many specimens at one time. This method was taught to me by Dr. Richard Howard, Director Natural History Museum Amarillo College. He was taught by his grandfather. Click to proceed to next slide

Materials needed • • Styrofoam block I use the bottom of this board. NOT the grooved side. Insect pins Paper strips And yes… the specimen Click to proceed to next slide

Materials needed • • Styrofoam block Insect pins Paper strips And yes… the specimen Click to proceed to next slide

Vernon Evans is demonstrating this method with a scarlet mormon Note: Excepting this slide, sit back and watch slides for this technique. You do not need to click to next slide until prompted. O. K. Click now and then wait until prompted again Click to proceed to next slide

Vernon Evans is demonstrating this method with a scarlet mormon Utilizing the ventral surface of the specimen, positioning the wings becomes much easier and reduces the **DO NOT FORGET possibility of wing THIS STEP!! damage. Note the head ofproduct. the pin going Finished Clickinto to the Styrofoam. proceed to next slide Now while Thisbracing is a temporary support pin the thorax of the specimen from to prevent specimen you will rotating while positioning the removewings. the temporary support pin. This specimen will be mounted dorsal Click to proceed to next slide side up.

To mount a specimen ventral side up you place the pin tip into the foam. Note the position of the head of the pin. It is out of the foam not in it. Click to proceed to next slide