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Preserving specimens in epoxy or 99% ISO alcohol

Started By AntsMAN , Jul 2 2015 10:37 AM

specimens

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5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline AntsMAN - Posted July 2 2015 - 10:37 AM

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617 posts

LocationNova Scotia, Canada

Has anyone got any expierence drying and preserving ant specimens in epoxy, or 99% ISO alcohol.

Current queens/colonies

Camponotus novaeboracensis x2

Camponotus pennsylvanicus x2

Camponotus herculeanus x1

Formica sp. x1

Lasius americanus x1 (Lasius alienus)

Lasius neoniger x1

Crematogastor cerasi x1

Myrmica sp. x1

#2 Offline Subverted - Posted July 2 2015 - 10:59 AM

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LocationSoCal

Isopropyl alcohol will leech colors out of most specimens over time, just fyi.

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#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 2 2015 - 3:19 PM

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Isopropyl alcohol will leech colors out of most specimens over time, just fyi.

Really? I have never noticed that yet. Most of my specimens are preserved in isopropyl and are just fine.

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#4 Offline AntsMAN - Posted July 3 2015 - 2:11 PM

Advanced Member

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617 posts

LocationNova Scotia, Canada

Isopropyl alcohol will leech colors out of most specimens over time, just fyi.

Really? I have never noticed that yet. Most of my specimens are preserved in isopropyl and are just fine.

How long do you let the specimens dry for and do you dilute the isopropyl?

Current queens/colonies

Camponotus novaeboracensis x2

Camponotus pennsylvanicus x2

Camponotus herculeanus x1

Formica sp. x1

Lasius americanus x1 (Lasius alienus)

Lasius neoniger x1

Crematogastor cerasi x1

Myrmica sp. x1

#5 Offline JakobS - Posted July 24 2015 - 12:27 PM

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23 posts

LocationState College PA

I have hundreds of specimens (at least 9 genus) in 95% ethyl alcohol from 2012 and 2013 with no leeching of color. 95% ethyl alcohol is recommended though probably hard to come by generally. Because its such a high amount of alcohol, it shouldn't take very long to dry specimens to point/pin, within ten minutes or so. It's generally not recommended to keep ants in alcohol in the long term, as long term storage in 95% + alcohol can make specimens brittle, but they will last a bit if you have the space!

Edited by JakobS, July 24 2015 - 12:28 PM.