Specimen preparation and curation

These are published in a handbook: Walker, A.K.; Crosby, T.K. 1988. The preparation and curation of insects. New Zealand DSIR information series 163, 92 pages.

The book provides details on the standards used in NZAC for preparing and curating specimens; however, a few sections are no longer relevant, such as how labels are produced and equipment suppliers.

New Zealand Area Codes for recording specimen localities

"Crosby codes"

Crosby et al. (1998) subdivided the New Zealand mainland (North, South, and Stewart Islands, plus nearby inshore islands) into 29 approximately equalsized areas, and defined two-letter codes for each. These areas were modified from the areas used as weather forecast districts by the New Zealand Meteorological Service, and their main purpose was to facilitate the arrangement, retrieval, and documentation of specimens in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC).

The codes have subsequently been used in other collections, for computer databases, and in publications as a convenient way of categorising specimen data.

Connect to the LRIS portal to view or download the area codes data layer.

There is no charge made to download this data layer, but you do need to register your name and email address and then sign in to access the website information.Check the conditions of use listed in the Licence, and acknowledge the source of the data in all derivative works: "Data reproduced with the permission of Landcare Research New Zealand Limited".

Posting specimens

A reliable method for sending live insects through the post in standard sized envelopes.

by A.C. Harris, Otago Museum, Dunedin.

Museum entomologists often receive letters requesting the identification of an insect, the remains of which are spread out on the letter like a Rorschach blot. Consequently, for many years I have requested that members of the public post me specimens by the following method, which is invariably reliable. The insects have always arrived live and in good condition, if the instructions have been followed.

A small metal or plastic lid, 5-6 mm deep and 15-20 mm in diameter, is used. Such lids can be obtained from pill vials or similar bottles. An alternative is to cut down a small vial made from soft plastic and use only the bottom 5-6 mm. [Obviously, if the insect is larger than this, then a large lid will beed to be used. Keep in mind that the NZ Post maximum thickness for an envelope is 20mm.]

A piece of gladwrap or clear plastic from a plastic bag, is cut to a disc about twice the diameter of the lid.

Next, some live, green, fresh Sphagnum, or similar moss, is obtained, perhaps under and among grass in a shaded part of a backyard lawn. In the inside of the lid a sufficient quantity of moss is placed to fill it almost completely, but the moss must not be compressed. A small cavity is made gently in the moss in the lid, the insect is placed carefully in the cavity, and a final fragment of moss is positioned gently over it.

The gladwrap or plastic disc is then placed over the open side of the lid, and folded down around the closed side underneath. A square of Sellotape is attached to the base, and two further strips wrapped over the lid in two directions, forming a cross on the top and the bottom.

The package is held firmly within the envelope so that it will not move, by lightly sellotaping it face-down to a small plain sheet of note paper or card. This is folded and put into the envelope, positioned so that the lid is in the end furthest from the stamp.

The metal or plastic lid effectively shields the insect, preventing it from being squashed; the moss secures the specimen and prevents it from rattling around while also providing oxygen and moisture. The gladwrap retains the moisture so that the specimen does not dies from desiccation.

The specimen will last for several days, but should always be sent by 'fastpost' or 'airmail'.

Reproduced with the permission of the Entomological Society of New Zealand, from The Weta - Newsbulletin of the Entomological Society of New Zealand Inc. Vol. 20 No 2, p. 32-33, Dec 1997.