Newman's Box
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Newman's Box
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Conservation and preparation :There are three types of procedures to prepare tropical butterflies : 1°. Preparation in-situ while the insect is fresh : This is certainly the best solution, but it requires carrying a number of items that take quite a bit of space and are fragile otherwise to limit the time of collection to that during which the insects remain still fresh and flexible. 2°. Preparation of the insect once dried: This is the most commonly used procedure by the majority of lepidopterists. It consists on allowing the insects to dry as quickly as possible after their capture (with the help of the sun!) and of keeping them in enveloppes until ready to prepare them. When ready to prepare them, they are re-humidified according to the standard procedures. This procedure creates often difficulties: holes, ripping of wings ... 3°. Use of a « Newman's box »: This is an intermediary method between the two previous ones. It allows the prolongation of the period within which the butterfly is flexible for some months, allowing thus to prepare the insects as easily as if they were very fresh. It is by far the method that produces the best results ... The preparation of a Newman's box is simple :
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Place a thin layer of leaves of
Prunus laurocerasus
on the bottom of a box that closes well such as a Tupperware
box. Add 3 or 4 insecticide 'balls' to avoid molding. Over that loosely
place the envelops with the butterflies and finish with a layer of plastic
with bubbles or a cotton wad. The leaves of Prunus laurocerasus help obtain an hygrometric balance and they release cyanic acid (HCN) The insecticide "balls" contain paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) that has an insecticide as well as bactericide action that stops the decay of the insects and also has an action over fungi. The PDCB is now not allowed in Europe - how to replace it? |
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Newman Box being filled… you can see the leaves of Prunus laurocerasus cut into big pieces and insecticide "balls" (paradichlorobenzene) at the bottom of the box. |
Newman's Box ready to be stored… |
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In a tropical environment, the Newman's box should not be stored long time at ambient temperature. It is recommended to place it as soon as possible in a refrigerator or freezer !! |
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Butterflies prepared from a Newman's box kept at ambient temperature (29-30 °C) during 3 weeks in Cayenne, in November 1996. The heat and humidity have altered the pigmentation, the colors have faded, see the spots on the two Geometridae. |
The same species captured the following year but kept in a Newman's box placed in a refrigerator at Cayenne during one month…. Butterflies quality is best of the best !! |
For more details see BOURGOGNE J., 1962 : La BOITE NEWMAN, Alexanor, Tome II – Fasc. 8. |
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Advantages of the Newman's box : The butterflies preservation is fresher, the colors are less altered and later on their preparation is easier |
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| Wings that fall, holes and rips ... is often the result of butterflies prepared after drying and subsequent re-humidification. | The same species prepared after a period of conservation into a Newman's box: it is perfect, even for those butterflies considered difficult !! | |
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For the metropolitan lepidopterists is the search for the refrigerator (or freezer) that could serve for temporary storage of the boxes that poses the biggest problem. In French Guiana this is not a problem but in other places of the world, such as Africa, it is not easy to find a refrigerator that works !! For the people in Guiana that want to make a Newman's box, the Prunus laurocerasus may be replaced by any type of thick and shinny leaves that may be used instead.
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| (Philippe COLLET - Caen, on 5/IX/2007) | ||
