75 - 80% is OK for morphology studies. >90% for genetic studies, but be careful because the specimen easily break. For more information of preserve specimens for morphology studies I suggest read Levi, H. W. 1966. The Care of Alcoholic Collections of Small Invertebrates. Systematic Zoology, 15 (3): 183-188. Ah! about the color: The lost of color is common, so, you can take a picture of the living specimen.
Dear Asmat Sahab. Try using spirit available from local pharmacies. Sadly I do not know its chemical composition.
Dr. Bustamante is correct on his comments. There are few preservatives that keep the spiders flexible (for ID or taxonomic work) so it is best not to use alternatives. Isopropyl alcohol causes the spiders to become brittle and it is not a good choice (this might be the 'spirit' recommended by Jaffry and is also called rubbing alcohol).
Can anyone preserved spider like butterflies in a entomological box ? does is it work?
Anderson Gomes Unfortunately, the spiders are too soft-bodied (thinner and more flexible exoskeleton than many insects) and they tend to hang poorly on pins and can decompose too much. Using alcohol does a better job overall of preservation.
¿has somebody tried with alcohol-glycerin?, I´ve read about the solution in insects; it may work on spiders as well for long-term storing, preserving some coloration and flexibility. Its called Hood solution. There´s another one similar, wich uses glacial acetic acid and destilated water besides alcohol and glycerin.
See:
- Sáenz et al. (1990). Entomología sistemática.
- Márquez-Luna (2005). Técnicas de colecta y preservación de insectos.
- Krogmann & Holstein (2010). Preserving and specimen handling: insects and other specimens.
One advantage of adding a small percentage of glycrein is that, if the specimen is accidentally allowed to dry out the remaining glycerin will preserve the specimen until fresh alcohol can be added.
Photography is the best way to record colors. Most spiders will retain their colors for a week or so in 70% alcohol. A good way to kill spiders is to place them into very cold 70% alcohol, then allow them to thaw slowly in a cool refridgerator for about an hour.
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