A few beetles.
Jan 15, 2019 03:24:25 #
Cell phone images. I believe one fits macro. I culture mushrooms on rye and wheat grain. A number of years ago I bought fifty pounds, used about half, and saved the rest in a lidded plastic bucket.
A few months later started finding small beetles in the condo. They are probably Lyctus striatus. Saltines left in dark places as traps yielded enough beetles to creat an18x90 mm column in a test tube of alcohol. Thousands of 4mm or so beetles. An entomologist's lava lamp. Fed grain to dove, within two weeks saw no more beetles.
Looking thru old odds and ends to post. Come on warm weather.
Bill
Last photo of first attempt at preserving insects in hand sanitizer. More on this later, and better photos.
A few months later started finding small beetles in the condo. They are probably Lyctus striatus. Saltines left in dark places as traps yielded enough beetles to creat an18x90 mm column in a test tube of alcohol. Thousands of 4mm or so beetles. An entomologist's lava lamp. Fed grain to dove, within two weeks saw no more beetles.
Looking thru old odds and ends to post. Come on warm weather.
Bill
Last photo of first attempt at preserving insects in hand sanitizer. More on this later, and better photos.
Jan 15, 2019 18:29:52 #
Interesting long tube you got there. Wondering if you could heat up the bottom to create circulation, making that lava lamp effect you mentioned.
I see an antlion larva in the last picture.
I see an antlion larva in the last picture.
Jan 15, 2019 21:02:18 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Interesting long tube you got there. Wondering if you could heat up the bottom to create circulation, making that lava lamp effect you mentioned.
I see an antlion larva in the last picture.
I see an antlion larva in the last picture.
Those were poor. I was bored and lazy. The long tube is a 20mmx81cm test tube. The one with a normal screw cap 20x110 mm vial.
There is a process to display insects and others in hand sanitizer. I am in the process of tweeking it. This shows promise for larva preservation. This is a first try. The beetles (or others) might work in a lava lamp. Alcohol looses heat too quickly. It might work with mineral oil. HMMM!
Bill
Jan 16, 2019 06:23:21 #
Wow, I don't know what to say about that except that a lava style lamp with insects would certainly be a coffee table talking point when visitors come.
Jan 16, 2019 07:11:19 #
EnglishBrenda wrote:
Wow, I don't know what to say about that except that a lava style lamp with insects would certainly be a coffee table talking point when visitors come.
Aand they might not drop by ever again. 😉
Jan 16, 2019 11:20:38 #
Bill, this is simply amazing. That is a lifetime amount of beetles and who knows what that you have there. Very innovative and highly creative collection and method of collecting you have there. I also believe your hand sanitizer gel way of preserving insects is going to be a real winner. Job well done.
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