LarvaHunter Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I usually use a low power bulb to dry big specimens fast, but I am going to try my food dehydrator. Does anyone see any problem with this method (I plan on keeping it at 105F)? I think the faster the specimen is dried the better. I just hope their joints don't become too brittle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarvaHunter Posted March 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 Update, dried a huge yellow hairy scorpion as a test. It worked like a charm, colors look good and I pinned it in a realistic lifelike position Under a light right at the end while it was fairly malleable, I'm going to scare my friend real bad with it It will work with beetles, If discoloration may be an issue this may be the key. Besides freeze drying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pannaking22 Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 Cool, glad it worked out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarvaHunter Posted March 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 Thanks, next I will try a large beetle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarvaHunter Posted March 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Apparently the best way to taxidermy is freeze drying, they freeze dry moth/butterfly and beetle larvae/pupae and other soft bodied or hard to dry things without discoloration. The Smithonian Institution uses this for their birds and soft bodied creatures on display. I'm going to see if a florist or taxidermist nearby will let me use their freeze drying equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Myers Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Just a thought: Might you be able to use dry ice and a small styrofoam cooler to freeze dry your specimens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Unless it is very big and soft bodied, normal air drying at room temps works fine for nearly every type of insect, no need to freeze dry it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarvaHunter Posted March 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Matt,I was talking of drying soft bodied insects like beetle larvae, and pupae, this is what they do in proper museums, insects like katydids,grasshoppers,and scorpions lose their color with normal drying. And it's the only way to have a huge beetle larvae with all the organs inside and looking alive.I just wanted to let people here know.This is what is done.More collectors want larvae specimens together with their beetles to show the whole life cycle.On Ebay type in taxidermy larvae, you all will be amazed. There is also a seller there called perfect-insects which has great specimens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarvaHunter Posted March 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Thanks for the suggestion Bill. It turns out to freeze dry properly you need a vacuum pump, and vacuum chamber, also a cold trap. Even DIY is pretty expensive. I found a guy with a machine, he said he will freeze dry some of my beetle pupae and larvae for free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Myers Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Cool! Keep me posted. I'm interested in freeze drying some cicadas to see if I can keep their colors from fading. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarvaHunter Posted March 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I will keep you updated. Berkley has a really good paper on modern insect preservation. The article states that you can freeze dry cheaply with the insect in an airtight container with dissicant inside the freezer, it just takes longer. nature.berkeley.edu/.../Techniques.doc If above dosent come up in google type in Techniques in Entomology Spring 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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