preseving a southern black widow?

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Jon
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preseving a southern black widow?

Post by Jon »

Recently encountered a female southern black widow after removing my lawnmower cover. First time ever encountering one in my yard. I currently have it in a sample jar and I have been feeding it small prey.

At some point, I want to try and preserve it. Although I have some ideas in mind, I'll reserve those for now until I read your suggestions.

I'm also wondering if she will ever create an egg sac? I would hold off a bit on the preservation process if so, but just curious as I understand she can retain sperm for a time.

Thanks,
Jon
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Trehopr1
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Re: preseving a southern black widow?

Post by Trehopr1 »

Most spiders are best preserved in 70 percent
rubbing alcohol which is commonly available.
It will retain much of the color and certainly
the structural integrity of the specimen.

Spiders, once dead dessicate pretty badly in
their abdomen (region); looking like a dried husk
with legs. So, an immersion in alcohol remedies
that.

After about a month change out the alcohol to
a 90 percent base (commonly available) and this
will stiffen it up more for the long term. If you
ever notice the fluid becoming a tainted yellow
color replace it with fresh alcohol as these are
impurities "leaching" out from the body. Alcohol
should always be clear !

Keep your specimen in a vial with a tight seal or a
small "canning-type" jar which also offers a good
tight seal. Of coarse, tape a data label on the vessel
featuring date of capture, collector, location etc. to
lend provenance to your find.
Jon
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Re: preseving a southern black widow?

Post by Jon »

Thanks. Well, that was one preservation method I had considered, but I read that there is color fading of the spots over time (red becoming yellow, for example). My thought was actually to freeze dry it, either at STP or under vacuum. I did this with Monarch caterpillars several years back and they have retained their structure and color really well. My single stage vacuum pump went bad just after the cat preservation, so it would most likely be done now at STP which takes significantly more time (6 months instead of 2-3 weeks!). Then, I could either place the freeze dried specimen in an observation container of some type or, even better, try to place it into resin. I'd really like to go the resin route, but it's expensive for what little I'd need plus there is the yellowing factor.
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