To kill captured specimens, Ray uses Rosinol lighter fluid. He indicated a little squirt to the side of the abdomen (probably across spiracles) usually puts a specimen down within a minute. This avoids scale loss that sometimes occurs in a killing jar. Ray would be holding the specimen with wings closed at the wing/body juncture. The rosinol quickly evaporates from the body and from any accidents on the wings without a trace.
Ray noted it is probably a good idea to wear a pair of gloves if you're going to be killing a large number of newly emerged moths for specimens.
He also passed on this little tip: Lunas, which typically rest with their wings open, will close their wings if subjected to a chill. A quick trip to the freezer or fridge with a quiet moth in a plastic tub, probably lined with a paper towel, will make subsequent handling much easier. Again he is referring to freshly eclosed moths whose wings have just stiffened.
Return to Main Index
Return to Members' Articles