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Preserving And Photographing Specimens


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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 11 2014 - 1:02 AM

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Can anyone make a tutorial on how to preserve ants and what materials are needed? Also some tips on what to use to photograph them like this:

Kinda sad I don't have a clue on how yet, but still need to learn.

casent0173015_p_1_high.jpg



#2 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 11 2014 - 7:13 AM

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I am no expert, but I have recently learned some things about this. I'll make a tutorial, and if anybody else has some tips or techniques that help them, they should post them too.


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#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 1 2014 - 6:56 PM

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What do I preserve them in to keep them from falling apart?



#4 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 1 2014 - 7:25 PM

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Store them in 90 percent ethanol alcohol, and then pin them up.



#5 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 1 2014 - 11:34 PM

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How long do I store them?



#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 2 2014 - 2:21 PM

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However long you want. I don't know what exactly does what, and for how long. I know that I usually put mine in the alcohol when they're alive and flexible, then later I take them out--could be hours, could be days--and pin them up and let them dry. I find that for some reason, they don't shrivel up as much if they are put in alcohol first... I'm not sure why, but it seems that way.



#7 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 17 2014 - 9:08 PM

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I'll make a tutorial, and if anybody else has some tips or techniques that help them, they should post them too.

 

When will that happen? :)



#8 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 17 2014 - 9:24 PM

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Haha, geez, I'm not sure. I have so much going on it's crazy.



#9 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 17 2014 - 9:57 PM

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:D Its fine



#10 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted November 21 2014 - 12:16 AM

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Will this ever end up happening?



#11 Offline dspdrew - Posted November 22 2014 - 4:01 PM

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Yes, I just don't know when. I have quite a few threads I've been wanting to make, but just have too many other projects going on at the moment.



#12 Offline AntsMAN - Posted July 9 2015 - 7:43 AM

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This PDF had alot of good information, I too am trying to start a collection of specimens.
 

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#13 Offline cpman - Posted July 9 2015 - 10:12 AM

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I've got a quick question about pining. My hands shake a lot, so I have issues pointing them. Do you guys have any suggestions?



#14 Offline Subverted - Posted July 9 2015 - 10:50 AM

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Can you try bracing your hand/wrist against a table and using that to add stability? Sometimes that helps me out when I need to do extra fine work.


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