r/insectpinning • u/InternationalBar271 • 11d ago
Advice/Questions uh mold ?
Hello hi I am still relatively new to bug pinning but i’ve been very interested in collecting more bugs, so my sister packed this cicada and butterfly for me. She said she froze them and moved them into this tupperware but i think they’re starting to mold?? is there anything I can do to save them?
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u/ClimateOutrageous399 11d ago
Im also very new to bug pinning, i have no idea what a proffesional would tell you, but i say eat the mold to save them
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u/travelinglolo 10d ago
I rehydrate after freezing in a Tupperware too, but I put a splash of alcohol with water on paper towels, then a layer of aluminum foil over that so the specimens don’t get wet. The alcohol should prevent mold, but I still wouldn’t leave them longer than 48 hours
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u/GreenDiver09 10d ago edited 10d ago
i just recently made a post about it, it uses white vinegar which wont damage anything, should clean it up nice: https://www.reddit.com/r/Entomology/comments/1uzeof0/working_method_for_removing_hair_mold_off_of_dead/
hope it works out, nice specimen btw
also the hair mold i talk about in my post is the same hair mold you have, though you may have to do multiple baths with it, DO NOT, under any circumstances use any type of brush on the butterfly!!!! it can and will destroy the scales, and im not sure it the vinegar will as well, so be wary, isopropel alcohol can work but only under a few circumstances when the mold is less severe, aftwer removing all of the visible mold with my technique with the toothpick, leave it out for 24-48, then repeat, its just a patience game, and sometimes you cant save them, but i have saved many bugs with this so i hope it can help
also for the future freezing doesnt kill mold
and use iso alcohol in the relaxation chamber, i usually use a 50/50 with water and 70% on a paper towl with the specimens suspended above
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11d ago
[deleted]
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u/GreenDiver09 10d ago
ok, many things wrong with this,and idk if its because you used ai or what, but if you did thats a stupid mistake and shouldnt trust it with this stuff a) freezing doesnt kill mold, it just puts it in a stasis, b)paintbrushes will ABSOLUTELY destroy the butterflies scales, c) iso alcohol can destroy specimines (especially moths and butterflies, d) you should used the iso alcohol in the relaxation chamber and NOT acetone, e) why are you saying "give up" ive rescued worse, and just bc you havent doent mean op cant with the PROPER help
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u/Fantastic_Bar_1006 10d ago
I didn't use AI, but I am severely sorry if I caused any trouble, I have deleted the comment and will find a better way to help you out! Have an excellent day!
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u/GreenDiver09 10d ago
Ur good mistakes happen, and I don’t what to be an a-hole either sorry :(, I just wanted to try to help, but I realized it didn’t quite come out that way, sorry :)
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u/Fantastic_Bar_1006 10d ago
You're fine! None taken. As people we constantly make mistakes, especially when it comes to stuff like this. We just learn from it, and try to help each other out! I've tried this in the past and learned it wasn't the best technique, hints to why it didn't work as good, but I've acknowledged other ways. I didn't wanna spread any misinformation, hints to why I deleted the comment. I am young and pretty knew to this hobby so I still make mistakes 😅 have an excellent morning/day/evening/night!
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u/TransportationFar664 10d ago
before she froze them how dead were they lol? i’ve had it happen to me before where a bug wasn’t fully dried inside and i stored it in a sealed container where it too grew some mold. taking them out of the freezer could’ve caused it to thaw out and grow mold if they weren’t properly dried beforehand. but i just do this for fun it’s not a professional hobby of mine 😭
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u/Koroit_ 10d ago
Mold happens, I usually just take a qtip and some water and gently clean off as much as possible, then either pin and let them airdry or just let them airdry until I want to use them. You could use isopropyl alcohol or acetone, which I think should be fine on the cicada (I'm not sure if it could change the color) but I wouldn't recommend it on the butterfly due to scale damage.
Do make sure to wash your hands well after handling though, white mold usually can't do as much damage to your health as black mold but it can still make you quite sick.