Butterflies in bags: permanent storage of Lepidoptera in glassine envelopes

By

Caspers, Max
Willemse, Luc
Miracle, Eulàlia Gassó
Nieukerken, Erik J. van

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-1-7

Original Publication

Nota lepidopterologica

Volume

42

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

1--16

Subjects

Butterflies , Digitization , envelopes , glassine , Storage , volunteers

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Bonn,

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.42.28654

 

Abstract

In terms of amateurs and professionals studying and collecting insects, Lepidoptera represent one of the most popular groups. It is this popularity, in combination with wings being routinely spread during mounting, which results in Lepidoptera often taking up the largest number of drawers and space in entomological collections. As resources grow increasingly scarce in natural history museums, any process that results in more efficient use of resources is a welcome addition to collection management practices. Therefore, we propose an alternative method to process papered Lepidoptera: a workflow to digitize (imaging and data registration) papered specimens and to store them (semi)permanently, still unmounted, in glassine envelopes. The mounting of specimens will be limited to those for which it is considered essential. The entire workflow of digitization and repacking can be carried out by non-expert volunteers. By releasing data and images on the internet, taxonomic experts worldwide can assist with identifications. This method was tested for Papilionidae. Results suggest that the workflow and permanent storage in glassine envelopes described here can be applied to most groups of Lepidoptera.