tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178551212691955687.post6881028363657748345..comments2023-03-20T05:08:00.670-07:00Comments on Crooked Beak Workshop: The Inexplicable Mojo of Tiger Beetles. Crooked Beakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896259341991232278noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178551212691955687.post-78992215887694157522012-11-28T11:06:11.617-07:002012-11-28T11:06:11.617-07:00Hey Paul,
While the method you described works, y...Hey Paul,<br /><br />While the method you described works, you're right, sounds like a real pain and a lot of unnecessary trouble.<br /><br />I leave the specimens in their collection vials, drain the alcohol, then top off with petroleum ether. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PIN FIRST. When the ether remains clear after the series of "baths" and you're ready to pin,... with forceps, I pull one or two specimens out at a time. Insert the pin, check height with pinning block, set pinned specimen on a piece of styrofoam, then start setting legs and antennae using insect pins to hold them in place. They dry fairly quickly but I leave them set for three or four days to be sure. Yes, they dry stiff. Take your time, be patient.<br /><br />I have always used pet. ether and it has worked great for me. Look at the photos of my tiger beetles posted in the blog. Ted said he uses ethyl acetate, and others I know use Hexane. All can be purchased on the internet, like Ebay.<br /><br />I'll get to that "Pinning & Labeling" post some time soon I hope. Most of my computer time is being spent trying to finish up a manuscript on new <i>Polyphylla</i>.<br /><br />Let me know if you need help with your tiger beetles. You can email me directly as I'm not checking my blog very frequently now days.<br /><br />Best wishes, have a good holiday season, ...Crooked Beakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03896259341991232278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178551212691955687.post-88224924316819179602012-11-27T19:13:48.983-07:002012-11-27T19:13:48.983-07:00Delbert, Does the petroleum ether leave the specim...Delbert, Does the petroleum ether leave the specimens stiff? I had a collector detail to me his procedure for degreasing and you have to pin the bug ahead of time. He uses acetone which supposedly doesn't effect the pins if the heads are above the surface and they are in the vat for a short time. A jig is used to pin the specimens and keep them under the surface. It works nice but is a pain... So, how does the petroleum ether work? (Time for the post on properly pinning and setting!) Thanks! PaulPaul Kaufmanhttp://sonorantreesvc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178551212691955687.post-39841361501756869322012-10-11T09:08:36.507-07:002012-10-11T09:08:36.507-07:00Agreed. Ether or hexane have always been readily a...Agreed. Ether or hexane have always been readily available for me.<br /><br />Thanks for the tip regarding word verification. I guess that is the default on Google Blogger. I had no idea since I never comment! I've changed the setting to "No" ... hope that makes commenting easier.Crooked Beakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03896259341991232278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178551212691955687.post-89397743065896305472012-10-11T08:50:31.911-07:002012-10-11T08:50:31.911-07:00Any organic solvent will work - the choice depends...Any organic solvent will work - the choice depends more on availability and safety. Ethyl acetate vapors have relatively low toxicity and flammability and, for me, is readily available. Hexane and acetone are also commonly used, although the latter will dissolve nylon pin heads if used to degrease pinned specimens. Many people shy away from ether because of its extreme flammability.<br /><br />p.s. your word verification is a real obstacle to leaving comments...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178551212691955687.post-16066614673688107592012-10-11T07:36:44.624-07:002012-10-11T07:36:44.624-07:00Thanks, Ted.
I began using ether from an ancient ...Thanks, Ted.<br /><br />I began using ether from an ancient article in the journal, <i>Cicindela</i>.<br /><br />Ethyl acetate, huh?Crooked Beakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03896259341991232278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178551212691955687.post-75735743661648105322012-10-10T21:47:08.195-07:002012-10-10T21:47:08.195-07:00Great post. Everybody has their own variation on t...Great post. Everybody has their own variation on this theme - I use ethyle acetate (because I can get gallons of "waste" from our protein sequencing lab).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com