Photography: Valves are normally displayed flat, but in Euparal small specimens may be able to partially spring back, diguising their shape. Consider making a temporary slide for photographic purposes: arrange the valves on a glass slide with alcohol as a mountant and apply a cover slip, keep feeding in alcohol as it will evaporate quickly. Once the shot has been taken, carefully remove the slip and apply Euparal to the specimen.

5/ The valves should be cleaned of scales and hairs, but stout spines should be left in place. Carefully open the valves, removing any tissue that prevents them from doing so. Immersed these (and the aedeagus) in a water/alcohol mixture in several stages, for example 30%, 60% and finally 100% alcohol. This helps the cleaning process and prepares the structure for the slide stage. At each stage open the valves, if necessary turning them upside down and with the heel of a pin press down on the back against the glasss surface. The idea is to use the alcohol�s stiffening actions to encourage the valves to remain fully open of their own accord. In 100% alcohol, stain (if desired) can be added.

Tip: Refer to a genitalia diagram in a book of the family you are working on and aim to copy what you see there. In some families it is not possible to detach the aedeagus, or to flatten the valves, or the parts may need to be presented from a certain angle.
Photography: The aedeagus can be photographed at this stage, before the actions of alcohol distorts it.

3/ The male organs include the clasping arms and aedeagus, are clustered together at one end of the body - these should by now be obvious (see Morphology on this site). Hold the opposite end of the body firmly with the heel of an angled pin and, with a second angled pin, gently stoke towards the valves. With luck these will float free of the body, but may require carefully tearing the skin until they become detached. If enough scales have been removed, you should see enough detail to avoid damaging anything of value.

4/ The skin may be disposed of (although the skin in some
families, such as coleophorids and gelechids, have good
diagnostic features). Clean away as much gunk as possible. If the aedeagus is to be removed, do it at this stage. Removing the aedeagus may cause damage, so proceed with caution: lay the valves on their side and hold down firmly with the heel of an angled pin; use a second pin to pull the aegeagus away. Sometimes it is desireable to evert the thorn-like structures inside the aedeagus (the cornuti), but this can be tricky because of the small size of the material. If it must be done, try inserting a small hooked pin into the end of the aedeagus and dragging out the cornuti. Alternatively, slip open the wall of the aedeagus.

Transfer to Euparal on a glass slide and if needed re-open the valves. Arrange the aedeagus close by. Apply the cover slip at an angle to help prevent air bubbles. Small air bubbles usually disappear in Euparal. Label the slide.