The Butterfly Book: A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies of North AmericaHolland, W. J. (William Jacob)
Science
The Butterfly Book: A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies of North America
Holland, W. J. (William Jacob)
Butterflies -- North America
Setting-blocks are most advantageously employed in setting small
species, especially the _Hesperiidæ_, the wings of which are refractory.
When the insect has been pinned upon the setting-board or setting-block,
the next step is to set the wings in the position which they are to
maintain when the specimen is thoroughly dry. This is accomplished by
means of what are known as "setting-needles" (Fig. 56). Setting-needles
may be easily made by simply sticking ordinary needles into wooden
matches from which the tips have been removed. In drawing the wings into
position, care should be taken to plant the setting-needle behind the
strong nervure on the costal margin of the wing; otherwise the wings are
liable to be torn and disfigured. The rule in setting lepidoptera is to
draw the anterior wing forward in such a manner that the posterior
margin of this wing is at right angles to the axis of the body, the axis
of the body being a line drawn through the head to the extremity of the
abdomen. The hind wing should then be moved forward, its anterior margin
lying under the opposing margin of the front wing. When the wings have
thus been adjusted into the position which they are to occupy, slips of
tracing-muslin or of paper should be drawn down over them and securely
pinned, the setting-needles being removed.
[Illustration FIG. 56.--Setting-needle.]
In pinning down the strips which are to hold the wings in place, be
careful to pin around the wing, but never, if possible, through it. When
the wings have been adjusted in the position in which they are to
remain, the antennæ, or feelers, should be attended to and drawn forward
on the same plane as the wings and secured in place. This may ordinarily
be done by setting pins in such a position as to hold them where they
are to stay. Then the body, if it has a tendency to sag down at the end
of the abdomen, should be raised. This may also be accomplished by means
of pins thrust beneath on either side. The figure on the next page shows
more clearly what is intended. When the insect has been set, the board
should be put aside in a place where it will not be molested or attacked
by pests, and the specimens upon it allowed to dry. A box with shelves
in it is often used for this purpose. This box should have a door at the
front covered with wire gauze, and the back should also be open, covered
with gauze, so as to allow a free circulation of air. A few balls of
naphthaline placed in it will tend to keep away mites and other pests.
The time during which the specimen should remain on the board until it
is dried varies with its size and the condition of the atmosphere. Most
butterflies and moths in dry weather will be sufficiently dried to
permit of their removal from the setting-boards in a week; but large,
stout-bodied moths may require as much as two weeks, or even more time,
before they are dry enough to be taken off the boards. The process of
drying may be hastened by placing the boards in an oven, but the
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