Deadstock Ordering
Deadstock Ordering
Hello, firstly many thanks for choosing the “World of Butterflies & Moths” (wobam) as your dead-stock source. We want your business experience to be top class! Please help us by reading the following Q & A before you purchase your dead-stock. Your cooperation will help alleviate customer confusion and disappointment.
Wobam: “Breeding for future generations”
DEAD-STOCK QUESTION & ANSWERS.
Understandably beginners can often have lots of questions about various aspects of the hobby, buying, delivery, payments, etc… In order to alleviate repeating the same answers over and over we have decided to try and answer in a generic way the most common questions. Please read these questions and only e-mail for further information if you cannot find your answer elsewhere. We ask all customers new and old who are buying dead-stock to consider the following Q & A’s before e-mailing or phoning directly.
Frequently asked dead-stock questions.
Q. What is dead-stock?
A. Dead-stock are surplus adult insects which have died and are preserved “dried” for reference collections.
Q. What is the difference between “Papered & Set” specimens?
A. Papered specimens are insects which have been dried flat, and are supplied in paper envelopes. Consequently winged insects are supplied with wings folded together. Therefore all “Papered” insects require, relaxing, setting, and drying. To understand this process click here. Alternatively Set specimens have already been prepared. They are supplied mounted on a pin with data label. Such specimens require no further preparation they are cabinet ready. Please ensure you buy the correct format of insect. Tropical material on our website is mainly supplied as “papered” – although most of our British specimens are sold set. For ready set tropical material please see our colleges eBay store.
Q. How do your quality codes work?
A. Each code relates to the condition and quality of the specimen. Please see references below.
Definitions and Quality codes
SPECIMENS PAPERED/UNSET. Dried dead-stock supplied as papered/unset will come with closed wings in paper triangles in the case of Lepidoptera or loose on card with cellophane wrap in the case of other insects/coleoptera.
SPECIMENS SET. Dried SET dead-stock is supplied mounted on a pin. Winged insects will be supplied with spread dried wings (excluding coleoptera) SET specimens are supplied in card boxes and need moving to entomological cases for preservation and storage.
Quality codes:
A1 = Perfect no marking or obvious damage to wings or antenna. Note: Legs on Butterflies/Moths are not guaranteed
A1 – = Near perfect, some wing rubbing but not obvious – occasionally loose abdomens or antenna (repair with PVA)
A – = Obvious damage to wings – antenna loose or damaged – abdomen may be loose (repair with PVA)
A2 = Poor, excessive wing damage or antenna missing. For reference only.
We do our very best to grade and check insects before dispatch. In the case of lepidoptera where wings are folded we have to trust our suppliers grading, as we cannot see inside the wings. Occasionally grading is in error. In such cases we are happy to refund or replace returned items.
PLEASE NOTE: Dried insects are very fragile. We cannot guarantee that legs on butterflies and moths will be complete. Sometimes these are broken or missing. On larger bodied insects, especially Sphingidae and Saturniidae greasing or mould can sometimes be present on the abdomens. This can be brushed off and treated with acetone. On occasion abdomens come loose from the thorax and require re-fixing with PVA glue. Male Morpho butterflies will have their bodies removed, this is to prevent grease leeching into the wings. Dragonflies and damselflies are renowned for needing major repair work on the abdomens. Please ensure you comprehend that all these situations are part and parcel of insect taxidermy.
Returns: IF the items do not meet the customers satisfaction or arrive damaged the item/s must be returned for refund/replacement within 7 days. All returns and postal costs MUST be paid by the customer. Return costs are the customers responsibility. Please remember to check quality codes before ordering and make sure you are ordering the correct status viz. Papered or Set.
Q. Where do you get your dead insects?
A. All our specimens are either captive bred or sustainably sourced. If you have concerns about killing insects please see our ethics.
We hope this short Q & A section will help you understand a little more about how our store operates. Many thanks for your kind understanding and continued support. Best wishes…Jason Wright.
Email help: support@lba.uk.com