Process for Specimens

This is an outline of the process I use to keep track of my specimens and data records.

1. Take pictures
2. Collect specimens
   • Put in numbered vials and record vial number and photo number
3. Take data on weather
   • Temperature degree
   • Dew Point degree
   • Humidity %
   • Wind Speed
   • Wind Direction
   • Baro Pressure
   • Moon Visibility %
   • Time
   • Sky
   • Date
   • Location
   • Transfer photos to folder named with the date.
4. Process Pictures (go through and check for focus). Rename to location and date of taking.
5. Import Photos to Lightroom Classic. Use Map mode to add GPS coordinates to file name.
6. Crop photos to 600 x 600 pixels at 100 DPI or 600 x 400 at 100DPI depening on orientation of specimen.
7. Run pictures through Identification Program. Assigns identification to file name.
8. Check identification and fix if necessary.
9. Upload photos to website.
10. Go to Create Records Menu Item and pick photos.
11. Click Extract button and program gets the GPS coordinates, taxon, date and time from the file data.
12. Add info to data record. Save Record.
13. Select Copy Record, add photos and Extract data. Save Record. Repeat till all photos assigned to record.
14. Assign catalog number for pinned specimens.
    • Add vial number to notes field
15. Move originals to G: pictures/3 moth specimen photos/ (year-number folder)
16. Pin Specimens
17. Go to records on website and add the pin board location for the specimen.
18. Check website pictures and select new species pictures as needed. Assign number 1 and 2 to show up on genus/species of family page.
19. After at least 2 weeks, remove specimens from pinning boards and attach labels. Remove pinning board numbers from field on website.
20. After photographing the specimens, if identification known, (Hodges Number) move specimens to Hodges number drawer. For non-moths, I use numbered drawers and add number to specimen record.
21. If new species, make a species label and add to location in drawer.