A Question About Preserving Mantids

[GreenOasis]

I originally posted this question in the pinned topic of how to preserve mantids, but I figured that being an old thread & pinned, it wasn't likely to get a lot of notice unless a newbie stumbled upon it.

I now have a H. multispina nymph that died for unknown reasons and I thought I might use her for practice, but first I need these questions answered!

"Just a question: I think I had heard somewhere about using hairspray on your dried specimen (after the process of spreading, of course!) to make them more durable and less prone to breakage/color loss. Anyone heard of/tried this? What about a clear-coat spray paint?"

 

[Rick]

I don't use anything. Soon after death the insect is pinned and placed in a cool closet. After a few weeks it goes to the display case.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I have heard people use it, I think it needs to dry first.

 

[GreenOasis]

Yeah, that's kind of what I meant...dry your buggie first & then just before you set it up in the display box, clear coat it with something to prevent breakage & color loss. Maybe I should try asking in like a taxidermy or entomology forum...? I just had hoped someone on here (PHIL!) had some knowledge to share about the subject.

 

[batsofchaos]

I've heard of some great success amongst the wider world of entomology with using clear nail polish, specifically on butterflies and their wings. Giving a dried mantis a quick coat might help preserve some color and detail, although it might leave them a bit more lustrous than nature as a result. I imagine hairspray may help, but I'd be worried about the critters remaining tacky to the touch. It wouldn't be the biggest deal, but imagine how incredibly dusty the bugger would get if left sticky and not put in something enclosed. :blink: I didn't know that a G. Gongylodes could get so gray and hairy!

 

[Rick]

Yeah, that's kind of what I meant...dry your buggie first & then just before you set it up in the display box, clear coat it with something to prevent breakage & color loss. Maybe I should try asking in like a taxidermy or entomology forum...? I just had hoped someone on here (PHIL!) had some knowledge to share about the subject.

I have an entire case of dried mantids, so I might have some knowledge on the subject. Sorry I am not Phil. I have never heard the hairspray trick. Mine do just fine without it.

 

[PhilinYuma]

I have an entire case of dried mantids, so I might have some knowledge on the subject. Sorry I am not Phil. I have never heard the hairspray trick. Mine do just fine without it.

Don't be Rick! Otherwise you would have woken to be 73 this morning! :lol:

I would guess that you may have more knowledge about this than I, but I have mounted a lot of insects without using anything to coat them. It certainly wouldn't prevent breakage. I've seen a lot of insect collections in museums and none of them had been sprayed with anything.

One thing about the drying mantis pictured

above. I personally find this presentation with one one wing and tegmen folded more helpful for I.D. than having both sides expanded.

 

[hibiscusmile]

"One thing about the drying mantis pictured

above. I personally find this presentation with one one wing and tegmen folded more helpful for I.D. than having both sides expanded. "

I do too!

 

[Rick]

Don't be Rick! Otherwise you would have woken to be 73 this morning! :lol:

I would guess that you may have more knowledge about this than I, but I have mounted a lot of insects without using anything to coat them. It certainly wouldn't prevent breakage. I've seen a lot of insect collections in museums and none of them had been sprayed with anything.

One thing about the drying mantis pictured

above. I personally find this presentation with one one wing and tegmen folded more helpful for I.D. than having both sides expanded.

Hopefully I make it there one day.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

A lot of artists use the quick hairspray trick to help prevent smudging and the like, but I'm not sure how much help it would be on a mantis.

 

[GreenOasis]

Maybe that is what I am thinking of then! See...I KNEW I'd heard about it SOMEwhere! (I really hope I don't make it to 73...can you imagine how much WORSE my faculties will be by THEN?) :lol: :wheelchair:

 

[batsofchaos]

If that's the sort of spray you're thinking of, you actually want fixative spray. Hair spray might do in a pinch, but fixative spray dries without being sticky and has a flat finish.

 

[dgerndt]

I'm guessing you could also use something like acrylic finishing spray. I had to use some to finish a project to keep it from peeling and washing off. It seems like it would work well for this, too.

I pinned my first specimen back in November (my first mantis) and she's lost a lot of color. She looks dark brown instead of light tan. So maybe this will help keep the color.