How to Ship Exuviae

 This post will detail the process of shipping exuviae. If you are considering donating or shipping exuviae to DevinsCreatures for the Spermathecae Gallery or Male Accessory Organ Gallery, please message me with a list of species and shipping details. The process of shipping exuviae is very simple and easy, I assure you, anyone can do it! Additionally, if you would like to make a donation, but don’t have enough exuviae to warrant shipping, you can always use these methods of storing to save and collect a number of exuviae until you have a number that you feel comfortable shipping.

If you are curious as to what species I currently have documented, please see The Documented List →  Spermathecae Gallery.

There are two methods of shipping exuviae; bubble mailers and boxes. This post will be divided into instructions for both methods.

Bubble Mailers

Bubble mailers can be an excellent method for small specimens in small amounts. Specimen sizes for this type of shipping include spiderlings (slings), small juveniles, and dwarfs. Additionally, it is recommended to use clear polystyrene plastic vials in sizes 2.5 (0.28oz) to 12 (1.50oz). If your sample cannot fit in these vials or you cannot source dram vials, it is best to use the box method. When using bubble mailers, please make sure to wrap the dram vials in additional padding such as paper towels or tissue paper. 

How to store exuviae in dram vials →  Place the exuviae in the vial as soon as possible after the specimen molts, especially with smaller or juvenile exuviae as they dry out quickly and can be tricky to rehydrate if left too long. If the dram vial has ventilation holes, please place tape over them to seal the vial. The vial should be dry and not damp when packing exuviae. Please clearly label each vial with a number or species name and include a species list in the mailer. If you have multiple exuviae of the same species and they fit in the vial together, multiple exuviae can be stored and shipped in the same vial. Please do not pack multiple species in a vial.

If you feel as if your exuviae will dry out, you can place a damp, but not wet, piece of paper towel in the dram vials to keep the exuviae moist through shipping. Do not keep them damp long term as they may mold or begin to break down.

Box Shipping

Albeit a much more straightforward method, this shipping method is best suited for larger amounts of specimens and larger specimens. Boxes do not have to be insulated, but it is recommended to stuff the box gently after packing in exuviae specimen bags so they cannot shake around or become damaged. For this method, the primary way to ship exuviae is to place them inside a ziplock or other plastic type bags. These bags can be as large or as small as needed for the specimen(s) to fit your box, but they also need to be clearly labeled. Again, using a numbering system or labeling by species name and including a packing slip with an inventory of each species and number of specimens included is very useful for me.

How to store exuviae in plastic resealable bags → Simply label the bag with a number that corresponds to a packing slip key or with the species name and gently place the exuviae/exuvium inside the bag and gently remove as much air as possible. As with the vials, if multiple specimens will fit in the bag and they are the same species/locality, feel free to pack them into the same bag. Again, please do not pack multiple species into the same bag.

Sexing Via Exuviae

If you have a specimen that you are not certain of the sex on or would like confirmation, please let me know and I will do my best to do that for any specifically requested specimens. I cannot always 100% guarantee results on spiderlings as their reproductive organs, if present, are very underdeveloped. Spiderling exuviae are also incredibly fragile and not every single one is viable for sexing. I will do my best to work with what I am sent, but I cannot always guarantee I will be able to get viable results for spiderling or other small or delicate exuviae. Please do let me know before or on your packing slip in your box/mailer which specimens you would like to hear the results of.