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Collecting diptera
crex	#1 Posted on 12-06-2006 10:47
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 Posted on 12-06-2006 11:21
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? Last question first: No 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 doing 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


crex	#3 Posted on 12-06-2006 12:16
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 Posted on 12-06-2006 14:03
Member Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 9542 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 Posted on 12-06-2006 15:17
Member Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1999 Joined: 02.09.04	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 remover Kahis


crex	#6 Posted on 12-06-2006 20:11
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 ...