Preservation Questions: RIP Carl

[ohaple]

Our adult male h. majuscula Carl passed away yesterday from, I believe, old age. He was our first mantis and was our most entertaining.

Since getting mantids I have planned to preserve them after they passed to remember them and display their fantastic colors. That said, I probably wasn't as prepared as I should have been when he went. I didn't have etymological pins, a syringe, or a proper mounting board.

Trying to take advantage of his non-dried state, I went ahead with as much pinning as I was capable of.

Here is a picture, linked not imbedded in case this sort of thing bothers you (excuse the lighting). https://imgur.com/gallery/olI2TgD

I think I did a pretty good job for my first try. Decided to pin through the wings though I know many don't like that. Otherwise I tried to only pierce the body in one place.

My concern is gut rot. I don't think I have the stomach to stuff him, and I don't know where to buy syringes to inject alcohol. He is currently pinned and not dried, on cork, in the fridge with ventilation. Any advice for next steps is greatly appreciated.

 

[hysteresis]

But the comments

 

[ohaple]

But the comments

Yeah I always wonder what I will get when I make Imgur albums public. People are funny.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Sorry you lost him! Good job with pinning!

- MantisGirl13

 

[ohaple]

Sorry you lost him! Good job with pinning!

- MantisGirl13

Thank you!

 

[Mantis Lady]

The pinning looks good But what is next? Let him dry? Abdomen is full of fluids.

 

[hysteresis]

Does look like a great start.

Sorry, I don't yet know how to keep mantises, let alone pin 'em! 

 

[MantisGirl13]

Does look like a great start.

Sorry, I don't yet know how to keep mantises, let alone pin 'em! 

What do you mean? Of course you know how to keep mantids! You are getting into non-beginner species already!

- MantisGirl13

 

[ohaple]

The pinning looks good But what is next? Let him dry? Abdomen is full of fluids.

For now he is in the fridge. My research shows two primary methods to prevent gut rot.

1. take out the insides and stuff him with cotton or wool. Since he was my pet, I don't think I have the stomach for it.

2. inject rubbing alcohol. This is the route I think I am going to go, but getting needles is something new to me. I think I found a safe and non-sketchy source to find a needle so that I can inject it. Alcohol will ruin the color some. This is apparently not as effective as stuffing.

http://mantodea.myspecies.info/preservation-mantids

 

[MantisGirl13]

I think that because males' abdomens are skinnier they don't need any alcohol or anything in the abdomen. I have a pinned parasphendale make I did myself and his abdomen is fine and I did nothing to it.

- MantisGirl13

 

[ohaple]

I think that because males' abdomens are skinnier they don't need any alcohol or anything in the abdomen. I have a pinned parasphendale make I did myself and his abdomen is fine and I did nothing to it.

- MantisGirl13

That is awesome news. His is medium sized, but definitely not like a female.

 

[MantisGirl13]

That is awesome news. His is medium sized, but definitely not like a female.

Ya, females you need to do something with, males I think are fine!

- MantisGirl13