How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

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wollastoni
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How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by wollastoni »

Hello

I have caught several impressive Pepsis wasps in French Guiana ! They are a thrill to see flying and to catch ! Putting them in the cyanide jar is also "sport", as you don't want to get stung by these impressive wasps.

Any idea on how to spread them and get this perfect results for wings and legs ?
Image

I mean : if I use a spreading board for the wings, the legs won't be well placed.
And if I don't use any board to be able to correctly place the legs, the wings won't be well spread.

If anyone has succesful experience in spreading these tarantula hawk wasps, I would be happy to get their insights before trying to spread them myself.

Thank you
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by chulrich »

How about spreading them upside down? Of course this would not work so well with a traditional spreading board, but you could construct something easily with styrofoam and spread the wings first with the pepsis lying on its back. After that putting the legs into position.... Just an idea. Good luck, Christof
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by Paul K »

I did not spread too many wasp only few as i don't collect them, but what I did was using the sheet of styrofoam and i pinned small rectangle shaped two pieces right under where the wings should be. Then you can spread legs as you would for the beetles on the main sheet and wings after all on the side attached small pieces of styrofoam as for lepidoptera. Im not sure if this is the right technic but it works for me.
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by 58chevy »

Somebody posted a successful method of doing this in the old forum. I don't remember who it was.
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by Panacanthus »

Paul K wrote: Mon May 15, 2023 2:55 pm I did not spread too many wasp only few as i don't collect them, but what I did was using the sheet of styrofoam and i pinned small rectangle shaped two pieces right under where the wings should be. Then you can spread legs as you would for the beetles on the main sheet and wings after all on the side attached small pieces of styrofoam as for lepidoptera. Im not sure if this is the right technic but it works for me.
This is exactly how I prepare almost any specimen which has legs and wings which both need to be spread nicely. Beetles with their wings open, Orthoptera, Phasmids, etc. It can produce exceptional results. You just need the right thickness of styrofoam for under the wings, and to cut it into the ideal shape to fit between the legs but still support the wings.
“Seems to me the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” -David Attenborough
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by wollastoni »

Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate !

An American friend sent me this picture which is pretty clear !
spreading-pepsis-wasp.jpg
spreading-pepsis-wasp.jpg (193.28 KiB) Viewed 8262 times
It looks fun ... and not so easy to make things perfect ! I will do my best !
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by Paul K »

is that hand of toddler? or this wasp is huge !!!!
I was in many places in the tropics but i have never encounter one like this.

BTW, yes that's the way I spread those.
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by boghaunter1 »

Posted previously in an older insectnet forum... same mounting method as others have described. A large Pepsis (105mm wingspan) personally collected in Feb.,1990 in Costa Rica:

IMG_4323 (Custom).JPG
IMG_4323 (Custom).JPG (111.94 KiB) Viewed 8241 times

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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by boghaunter1 »

Two additional specimens from different orders spread with foam under wings. A Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus - purchased) from French Guiana - 120mm & 200mm+ wingspan:

2014 Phone Photos 009 (Medium).jpg
2014 Phone Photos 009 (Medium).jpg (112.14 KiB) Viewed 8238 times

A Megasoma acteon (purchased) with spread wings:


2014 Phone Photos 056 (Medium).jpg
2014 Phone Photos 056 (Medium).jpg (106.52 KiB) Viewed 8238 times

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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by Trehopr1 »

Here is a photograph of my spin on this topic.
I utilize a series of several "stacked" / neatly-cut 2x2
glass strips. In this situation, this large robber fly
required 4 stacked pieces under each wing with
another laid (on top) for weight.

I brace pin all those beneath the wings and allow
space for the the top one to rest. I use a fine #1
pin-head to glide the wings ACROSS the glass and into
place.

Depending on the specimen I occasionally place my glass
stacks at angles (much as the styrofoam) is placed. It all
depends on how or where I want the legs to fall in position.

Image

Once your specimen is set (as such) it needs to be left a
good 4 weeks (minimum) or up to 6 for the wings to lay
flat nicely. Taken off too soon will result in "droopy-wings".
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by Trehopr1 »

Well done indeed John !
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by Trehopr1 »

It has been awile since this topic was first addressed.
While I don't dabble much with the order Hymenoptera
I still have to relate a certain fondness in the challenge
of properly preparing them aethetically (life-like).

Hymenoptera are greatly unappreciated as beautiful
"in their own right" by the few who generally collect
some measure of them. Usually, a pin is thrust thru them
and the legs and wings are tucked-in to save space and
for more research oriented appearance. Only here and
there will you encounter a specimen that someone took
some time with.

Recently, I prepared up this large metallic-winged species.
In this case I was able to spread it much like a butterfly
(using a standard size spreading board). The specimen was
able to comfortably fit (within) the groove of the board
and yet, the depth of its thorax was not as excessive as
in other species where little foam triangles might be needed
to prop-up the wings for the spreading of legs.

Image

I was able to nicely tease out the legs symmetrically
and in a pleasing manner as if in flight.

This is just another option available to those who wouldn't
mind getting a little fancy with some of their Hymenoptera
captures. However, this will not always apply to everything.

A couple of my other Hymenopteran examples which are
self-collected....

Image

This one required stacking glass strips underneath the wings
for a level plane. After which, another piece of glass rested
on top to position and hold the wings.

**An above post by me shows this method/style practiced
on a black robber fly !

Some of the other methods employed/pictured by others
achieve the basic (same affect) using foam angular blocks
with strips to hold the wings fast.

Another, tarantula wasp (pepsis) mount which employed
the method which I have just illustrated here.

Image

Of coarse, hymenoptera can still look pretty decent in a
"resting" state with wings at the sides or overlapping (in
the case of bees); whilst spreading out the legs a bit as
though it just lighted.

I welcome anyone to show us any alternative spreading
techniques and it would be nice to see the work of
others more elaborate (spreads) posted.
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Re: How to spread a pepsis tarantula hawk wasp ?

Post by Trehopr1 »

Here is another wonderful and large species of
Giant Scoliid Wasp (Megascolia procer) of the
family Scoliidae. It has a wide range across
many countries of southeast Asia as well as
Sumatra, Java, and Borneo.

This male was re-spread by me using glass strips
stacked under the wings for (a level plane). The
females are much larger/heavier built but, males
are lesser seen in collections.

Image
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