Posted by Tony Irwin on 23-10-2007 17:30
#35
Adrian wrote:I have to take slight (but not pedantic) issue with your view that dry material is always better for long term storage. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. I wouldn't keep a cecidomyiid on a pin but would keep a syrphid that way.
I think the main argument against long-term storage in alcohol is that without adequate fixing, and carefully controlled concentrations, the material will eventually disarticulate. I agree completely with what you say about damage to dry specimens (not to mention the dreaded
Anthrenus! :() but I do find that a dry reference collection is much easier to work with - I can line up half a dozen specimens of closely related species and compare them directly - they are never separated from their data or determination labels, so never go back in the wrong place - not so easy to accomplish with specimens out of tubes! I wouldn't pin a cecidomyid, or a sciarid, or a phorid, but I would slide-mount them for examination and long-term storage. But then I need to decide what mountant to use (but that's another thread! :))