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Thanks guys, with a big smoochy kiss to Jere if that's what he needs to get through the day. A useful discussion, and I will certainly try the tip about acetone for yellow diptera.

Tony's method is exactly as I used to do, and ideal for me, but unfortunately, my husband did not grow up in a household where dead fauna was habitually kept in the freezer, and last year objected so strongly at the build up of specimens by the end of the season that I had to change tactics. This year I have resorted to freezing specimens to kill them, quickly pinning anything that is really important, and keeping the rest loose in small containers.

To be honest, I am not sure what sort of condition the French material is going to turn out to be in, but I had assumed I might need to keep it permanently in alcohol.