Microscopy Forum

The other day I found a small and mostly dead spider in my mostly frozen
backyard… Picked it up, dropped it in a jar, and picked it up for observation
some days later. Trouble is, poor guy has limbs all curled up, chelicera, palps
and all.

So my question is: how do I spread the limbs, secure tiny arachnid to my slide?
I want to observe the many parts, but poor creature keeps bouncing and
rolling…

I believe we are now well past rigor mortis. The limbs spread at my carefully
handling them, but pull right back to default when releaesd.

What to do?

Any help is appreciated.

Johann

Did you put it into ethanol? I find that specimens are easier to handle when they are wet compared to dry. It's also often easier to see structures like wings when it's submerged in ethanol.

Peter said

Hi Johann,

I would place the spider in 10% NaOH for a day, then wash for six hours, then place in acetic acid 33% for a day, then wash again for six hours.  I have not tried this, it is from an old book I have.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Peter.

When you say "wash for six hours", what should the specimen be washed with?