The Problem with Insects that are Immobile, Waxy Hemispheres
... is that you can't tell if they're alive or dead. I took my sample out of the freezer after about 11 hours and it looked exactly like what I had put in.
Yes, that is a problem. One thing you could try is to pull a couple off, flip them over, and poke them with a pin while looking at them with a magnifying glass to see if their rudimentary limbs twitch.
Something else that just occurred to me: the scale have to breathe oxygen, but I believe that green plants can survive in an anoxic atmosphere as long as there is some CO2 available and they have light for photosynthesis. Maybe you can suffocate the little buggers.
I'm wondering where they get their oxygen. If they had to breath through their shells, then you'd think that agricultural oil would kill them. I'm researching anatomy now.
Maybe you could get one of those 5 gallon water cooler jugs, cut it in half, place Mama Daisy inside, and tape it back up. Then, put dry ice in a funnel (or some such) and set it in the open mouth of the jug. The CO2, being heavier, should displace the air. It'll get cold too, though. Some tubing between the funnel and the jug might give the carbon dioxide a chance to warm up before it gets to the daisy.
You just don't want to seal the system or you will have a bomb on your hands.
Yes, that is a problem. One thing you could try is to pull a couple off, flip them over, and poke them with a pin while looking at them with a magnifying glass to see if their rudimentary limbs twitch.
ReplyDeleteSomething else that just occurred to me: the scale have to breathe oxygen, but I believe that green plants can survive in an anoxic atmosphere as long as there is some CO2 available and they have light for photosynthesis. Maybe you can suffocate the little buggers.
I'm wondering where they get their oxygen. If they had to breath through their shells, then you'd think that agricultural oil would kill them. I'm researching anatomy now.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could get one of those 5 gallon water cooler jugs, cut it in half, place Mama Daisy inside, and tape it back up. Then, put dry ice in a funnel (or some such) and set it in the open mouth of the jug. The CO2, being heavier, should displace the air. It'll get cold too, though. Some tubing between the funnel and the jug might give the carbon dioxide a chance to warm up before it gets to the daisy.
ReplyDeleteYou just don't want to seal the system or you will have a bomb on your hands.