Gallery Links
Users Online
· Guests Online: 23

· Members Online: 0

· Total Members: 4,950
· Newest Member: JeffersonA
Forum Threads
Theme Switcher
Switch to:
Last Seen Users
· Tony Irwin< 5 mins
· smol< 5 mins
· ESant< 5 mins
· Nosferatumyia00:11:29
· Gansucha00:14:09
· Carnifex00:51:28
· Reimund Ley01:11:09
· Zeegers01:28:18
· RasmusKeis02:05:20
· Arthur van O...02:31:53
Latest Photo Additions
View Thread
Diptera.info :: Miscellaneous :: General queries
Who is here? 1 guest(s)
 Print Thread
Collecting diptera
crex
#1 Print Post
Posted on 12-06-2006 10:47
User Avatar

Member

Location: Sweden
Posts: 1996
Joined: 22.05.06

I don't collect flies, I only take photos, but I could consider sending a few to other collectors.

A few questions:
- Would anyone be interested in getting samples of (unidentified) flies or other insects?
- Are there species that shouldn't be sent without special preparation, like perhaps Heteroptera?
- How do I kill them? Preferably without using strong poison!
- How do I wrap them up to send in the mail not to damage them? Avoid cotton?
- What information should be attached to each deliverance (location, date ..?)
- Can insects/spiders be sent in the mail without any special (customs) declaration?
- This was a useless newbie idea? ;)
 
Kahis
#2 Print Post
Posted on 12-06-2006 11:21
User Avatar

Member

Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 1999
Joined: 02.09.04

crex wrote:
I don't collect flies, I only take photos, but I could consider sending a few to other collectors.

A few questions:
- Would anyone be interested in getting samples of (unidentified) flies or other insects?
- Are there species that shouldn't be sent without special preparation, like perhaps Heteroptera?
- How do I kill them? Preferably without using strong poison!
- How do I wrap them up to send in the mail not to damage them? Avoid cotton?
- What information should be attached to each deliverance (location, date ..?)
- Can insects/spiders be sent in the mail without any special (customs) declaration?
- This was a useless newbie idea? Wink


Last question first: NoSmile

Samples: It depends. Most many species/specimens are we talking about 1/10/100/1000/...?

Preparation: is not necessary, i's better to do nothing if you dont know what you are doingWink

Killing: throw them into a freezer for a day. Then dry for a few days - a week. Another possibility of storage in alcohol (>50% ethanol, "T-sprit" diluted with water to 70% will do). For storage in alcohol you'll need good-quality test tubes with tight stoppers.

Wrapping: Use small boxes with only a few specimens per container (for example plastic 35mm film canisters). Fill the canisters loosely with tissue paper or some other soft material. Then put these canisters into a larger box surrounded by plenty of shock absorbing fillling.

Information: location (preferentially with coordinates down to 100x100 meters or so), date and name of collector. Habitat description is often very useful.

Customs: Dried insects should cause no problem. Write "Samples For Scientific Study - No Commercial Value" on the parcel. I don't know if sending samples in alcohol is strictly legal but it is regularly done nonetheless.
Kahis
 
www.iki.fi/kahanpaa
crex
#3 Print Post
Posted on 12-06-2006 12:16
User Avatar

Member

Location: Sweden
Posts: 1996
Joined: 22.05.06

Kahis wrote:
Samples: It depends. Most many species/specimens are we talking about 1/10/100/1000/...?

For me, probably only a few at the time, say max 10-15, I guess. I want to leave some food to the birds ;)
 
Nikita Vikhrev
#4 Print Post
Posted on 12-06-2006 14:03
User Avatar

Member

Location: Moscow, Russia
Posts: 9205
Joined: 24.05.05

- How do I kill them? Preferably without using strong poison!

I would like to inform my poison for Diptera. (Originaly idea was Black's, from Black - to me, from me - to Ozerov, and Ozerov now use it!).
Woman's liquid for nails cleaning is 90% ethilacetat and 10% water. Ethilacetat rest insecta's legs ect easy moveable. The main profit of this liquid - nobody in airport tell you bring flameable liquid on board. Usual cosmetic!
Nikita Vikhrev - Zool Museum of Moscow University
 
Kahis
#5 Print Post
Posted on 12-06-2006 15:17
User Avatar

Member

Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 1999
Joined: 02.09.04

GrinGrinGrin Well spotted!

I usually collect flies into small test tubes in the field, keep them alive in a cooled box during the day and use ethyl acetate to kill them when I have time to pin them. I bought the poison by the litre from a pharmacy when it was legal to do so.

I keep mine 'hidden in full view' in a small bottle originally used for liquid mosquito repellent. No trouble flying with it to date. Considering my style (or lack thereof) having mosquito repellent is less suspicious than nail polish removerWink
Kahis
 
www.iki.fi/kahanpaa
crex
#6 Print Post
Posted on 12-06-2006 20:11
User Avatar

Member

Location: Sweden
Posts: 1996
Joined: 22.05.06

I won't promise anything, but PM me your address if you are interested getting in some Swedish insects ...
 
Jump to Forum:
Similar Threads
Thread Forum Replies Last Post
Some diptera puparium, No = aphid parasitized by a wasp Diptera (eggs, larvae, pupae) 3 21-03-2024 18:29
Diptera Diptera (adults) 2 20-03-2024 22:28
Diptera : for ID , perhaps a Muscidae ... from Belgium 2024-05-07 Diptera (adults) 6 09-03-2024 15:32
ID Diptera from Canary Islands > Tethina grossipes (Becker, 1908) Diptera (adults) 3 10-01-2024 18:13
Diptera from Neuquen - Argentina Diptera (adults) 3 08-01-2024 17:07
Date and time
29 March 2024 12:02
Login
Username

Password



Not a member yet?
Click here to register.

Forgotten your password?
Request a new one here.
Temporary email?
Due to fact this site has functionality making use of your email address, any registration using a temporary email address will be rejected.

Paul
Donate
Please, help to make
Diptera.info
possible and enable
further improvements!
Latest Articles
Syrph the Net
Those who want to have access to the Syrph the Net database need to sign the
License Agreement -
Click to Download


Public files of Syrph the Net can be downloaded HERE

Last updated: 25.08.2011
Shoutbox
You must login to post a message.

07.03.24 00:01
Some flies preserved in ethanol and then pinned often get the eyes sunken, how can this be avoided? Best answer: I usually keep alcohol-collected material in alcohol

17.08.23 15:23
Aneomochtherus

17.08.23 13:54
Tony, I HAD a blank in the file name. Sorry!

17.08.23 13:44
Tony, thanks! I tried it (see "Cylindromyia" Wink but don't see the image in the post.

17.08.23 11:37
pjt - just send the post and attached image. Do not preview thread, as this will lose the link to the image,

16.08.23 08:37
Tried to attach an image to a forum post. jpg, 32kB, 72dpi, no blanks, ... File name is correctly displayed, but when I click "Preview Thread" it just vanishes. Help!

23.02.23 21:29
Has anyone used the Leica DM500, any comments.

27.12.22 21:10
Thanks, Jan Willem! Much appreciated. Grin

19.12.22 11:33
Thanks Paul for your work on keeping this forum available! Just made a donation via PayPal.

09.10.22 17:07
Yes, dipterologists from far abroad, please buy your copy at veldshop. Stamps will be expensive, but he, the book is unreasonably cheap Smile

Render time: 1.12 seconds | 189,899,337 unique visits