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Hello every one


Can give me advice for the conservation of hoverflies because I noticed that some have lost their color. The experienced technical advise me how please what after drying ?

Best wishes

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Hi Pierre
One bit of advice is to keep them alive for 24 hours before killing them - this will allow them to empty their gut, so the contents do not discolour the abdomen.

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I allways put my flies immidiately after pinning to acetone. Five-six hours is enough and after this bath all the colours will stay clear. It works with all kind of coloured Diptera, Hymenoptera ans even Sesiidae. There is no pest problem either because as far I understad there is nothing left to eat.

Jari

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Hi Tony,

Thank you for this valuable advice. When I catch hoverflies I immediately put it in a dry box. To avoid concerns of conservation because I do not always have time to prepare I put in the freezer. You make yourself how you prepare them without freezing ?

Pierre

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Hi Jari,

You mean a bath of acetone allows colors to bind to the insect? is that?

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Yes, make a test. Take two common pinned hoverfly; put one in acetone and keep one just like it is. After some time You will see the difference. After acetone bath all colours will stay bright.

Jari

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I also use the freezer to kill flies and store them until I have the time to set them. I've not tried Jari's acetone treatment - I wonder if it would work for Odonata?

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Thank you both Tony and Jari.

I'll try the acetone as soon as I get the opportunity. For the conservation of dragonflies I think the excercise was difficult, but I personally know Domanget Jean-Louis (president of French society odonatologie) and he told me he had to leave for a day odonates after capture for the tip, and in this case it keeps better odonates. I feel that this s'appplique to many insects. I am passionate apoïdes and wasps and I think the conservation easier ;).