Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Handling flies

Posted by crex on 21-04-2008 16:56
#1

More newbie questions. How do you handle the dead flies? Tweezer? I doubt it. Is it possible to touch it without damaging it before you stick the needle through it? My guess is that one should carry them in the wing(s) or maybe just pour it from one place to another, but how to hold it while pinning? B)

Posted by Andre on 21-04-2008 17:05
#2

There are flexible tweezers. But I usually use a sort of stamps-tweezer. You will have to pay attention where to take the insect and how to hold it between your fingers.
Some are very tough, others fragile. You will learn for which species it is important to be careful with the setea, or the legs, or the wings, etc. Some have 'loose' heads, that almost fall of just by looking at them.
Some flies you can pin by keeping them between 2 or 3 fingers. But also easier can be to just lay them on PS or polyporous surface and then pin through the thorax. After pinning you can gently try to manipulate the wings and legs and such in their best positions, to be able to view as many characters as possible.
Don't worry, you will learn. Just do it! :)