An Evaluation of Sabrosky's Cellosolve-Xylene Method for Dry Mounting Some Adult Insects Stored in Alcohol

Sabroksy's Cellosolve-xylene method was used to restore insects stored in ethyl alcohol so they could be dry mounted. Large- to medium-sized insects from five orders (Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Trichoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera) (some of which had been stored in ethyl alcohol for 50 years) were processed using this method. Most processed specimens were found to be of high to acceptable quality once they were pinned and dried and were similar to freshly pinned specimens. The Sabrovsky method is a relatively simple and cost effective alternative to other methods commonly used for restoring insects preserved in alcohol.