I broke my Scaeva pyrastri :-(

[Marc T]

My specimen, found dead inside Slapton FSC, has suffered its antenna being broken off. One has segment 1 + 2 seperated from 3. Has anyone tried gluing parts back on, if so what glue would you suggest and any tips on how to go about this task?

Returning home tonight a pootered another from my Robinson moth trap, this too being a male. What is puzzling me is the first is only 60% the size of the second. Is this variation common or could I have mis-identified them? Both have the "inner ends of the whitish-yellow abdominal markings on segments 3 and 4 . . . much more forward position than the outer ends" to quote Francis Gilbert.

Thanking you in advance - Marc Taylor

[brianh]

I have just measured two of the males that I have caught in the last few days - the body lengths were 15 mm and 12.5 mm. So they are quite variable in size.
Entomological glues are available which are water soluble to permit undoing. But you could use a general childs PVA adhesive. Apply a small spot with a pin whilst looking under the microscope. Or glue to one of the identity/collection labels and keep with the pinned specimen.

[Jason Green]

Hi Mark,

I would suggest you glue the part to a label instead - gluing it back on the body could easily obscure something (even carefully-done!).

If it was already dead, then it was probably already brittle - use fresh specimens that you deal with yourself, unless of course it's a new one for you, in which case use it as a standby-by until you get one fresh.

Breakages can be, on occasion, advantageous - I was keying-out a three-month-old Mason Wasp specimen (well, more like re-identifying - don't ask!! ) and discovered I had to look at the mandibles. I tried prizing the jaw open - and POP - the head flew across the specimen plate! I then glued the head internally-down to the stand-base and then almost by accident the mandible broke-off too - but I was able to then examine it better than I thought I could when the head was still on the body.

Breakages happen - just retain the pieces with the pin/label/stand. I accidentally snapped the had off a Dasysyrphus venustus the other day, clumsily putting another back in the store-box.

[Marc T]

Thank you gents for the advice, my first posting and such valuable information, cheers.

Marc

[Jason Green]

Sorry Marc - Welcome to the site!