Unidentified Bug and Beetles

[Klaas Reißmann]

Hi Ro,

I do have a good key to the Aphodius of Centraleurope, but this wouldn't be any help for you, because it is written in German.

But there is a nice book of Marek Bunalski:

BUNALSKI, MAREK (1999): "Die Blatthornkäfer Mitteleuropas", Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Bestimmung - Verbreitung - Ökologie, Bratislava, 1999, ISBN 80-967540-6-8

I can't remember the price of it, but it was cheap (somewhat between 10,-- and 20,-- Euro).

This book is written in German, too, but in advantage it's got 17 plates of genitalia paintings of each species of the Scarabaeoidea and it's got 13 coloured plates with photos of each species. And those don't need any language knowledge.

Regards
Klaas

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

and making sure it goes down between the mid and fore-trochanters.

Sorry, should say '...between the mid and hind trochanter'.

[rowanalder]

Klaas -

Thanks for the info on the book will definatley check it out. I think I remeber seeing on the web an RES Handbook on Scarabaeoidea I can't find it anywhere. I wish that they would revise the old guides and publish them again.

Jason -

Thanks for the info I must invest in a few of them pins before I do anymore collecting. Where is the best supplier of nu-poly a friend of mine was talking to me about it the otherday since I am having few problems with storing the collection.

I will post up some new pics sometime soon.

Cheers guys

[Jason Green]

I use W&D. Nu-poly is sold at £2.16 for 50x 60mm lengths each about 2.5mm thick, and are sold in nice small clear plastic boxes.

I cut each length six times to form equal 10mm lengths. Keep as much of the insect over the whole length as possible for protection - but if it's a long Sphecid such as Trypoxylon attenuatum (c10mm - thorax too narrow for direct-pinning!), then aim for the head to hang-over the edge - it should still be OK as you'll have the data/det-label below that.

Eventually it'll deal with 300 insects, but I only cut-up a few original lengths at a time in case I need to change anything.

It's worth remembering these are just my techniques - each worker has their own, and a lot of mine are a combination of tips I've gratefully taken from fellow workers (though I've put bits in myself, promise!)!

As for pins, don't forget to ask for a 'sample card'; you'll be amazed at how you'll get a feel for a B1 being far more suitable for some inverts than a C1 - despite the vast similarity in 'diameter'!

[rowanalder]

Hi Jason,

Thanks again for the info. I have ordered a few sets of pins and some of the Nu-poly sheets. Still yet to figure out what I am going to store the insects in mind. Hollowing out some old box files seems to be the cheapest option for me.

I have posted up another set of photos containing a few hoverflies.

A few hoverflies, a wasp and a beetle for Id

I have tried to take a few photos of some other beetles but most are too big to fit in the picture when taken from down the microscope.

Cheers again,

Ro

[Jason Green]

The pins - great stuff, what sizes?

Nu-poly - sheets, more like strips. 50x 60mm-long strips. Nice stuff and easy to cut.

Boxing - I use W&Ds 'Museum-style' glass-fronted 20x30cm display boxes, £18.67+VAT/p&p. As an alternative you can search Amazon for A4 paper-ream plastic-lidded boxes. They are about £3+p&p, then line it with 5mm plastazote - just Google for it - you can get 2x1m sheets for £12 inc. VAT/p&p. Box-files, though cheap and highly-accessible, are prone to mould and too deep for one layer - unless you pin to the lid+base, though then I suppose it'll make ordering them confusing. Perhaps!

Once you start keying you'll be away to getting real intuition

[rowanalder]

Hi Jason

I ordered some A3, E3 and G3 as recommended, just waiting for them now so I can pin a few more specemins.

Sorry it wasnt Nu-poly it was some of the Plastazote sheets.

I was looking at the museum boxes the otherday wondering if I should buy a couple. I will also check out the other boxes.

Having throuble with the keys at the minute but im sure it's just a bit more practice that I need.

Cheers,

Ro

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by rowanalder

Having throuble with the keys at the minute but im sure it's just a bit more practice that I need.

Let us know of any issues and we'll try and suggest something. They may be ones I'm having problems with too!