InsectNet forum

Xziau · by Xziau » Thu May 15, 2025 2:04 am

Can someone help me identify this bug? The bug has wings and fly. It’s usually with other smaller bugs. I see them at the top of my ceiling, doors and windows.

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Wed May 14, 2025 5:07 pm

Before BioqIuip shut down the equipment side,I bought a few extra things, I have an unused bottle of this item, it's an extra, and I doubt I'll ever need it.
I'll sell or trade it to you.

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Wed May 14, 2025 3:24 pm

With more anticipation, I could have added it on this list : https://insectnet.com/insect-fair/

If you have next year date, I would be happy to add it.

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Wed May 14, 2025 5:40 am

The last vial of my favorite BioQuip insect glue (see the pic) is about to run out.
Does anyone know how it can be replaced? Is it supposed to be
cellulose (nitrocellulose?) dissolved in acetone?
I am not interested in Elmer's or any other type of glue.
Thank you in advance

: Screenshot 2025-05-04 at 16.20.05.png (180.13 KiB) Viewed 179 times

jellybean · by jellybean » Tue May 13, 2025 10:42 pm

May 17 and 18, Bug Fair Los Angeles County Natural History Museum This Weekend.
Lots of Bugs to view, buy, and exchange. Only once a year. Bring cash as many of the sellers are just hobbyists who don't take credit cards.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hym ... it?tab=t.0

livingplanet3 · by livingplanet3 » Tue May 13, 2025 9:36 pm

It appears to be a small, solitary wasp of some kind, although I am not sure of the species. Stings from these wasps are usually minor, and leave no lasting effects.

Escobar · by Escobar » Tue May 13, 2025 9:19 pm

It's about 5mm long, flying and bite me. He got inside my shirt and got crazy. I was in a plane from Portugal to Switzerland. I would like to know what kind of insect is it. Thank you...

eurytides · by eurytides » Sun May 11, 2025 2:46 am

Yes, I forgot to mention humidity is a factor and fridges dry things out. I store bugs in almost airtight containers and ziploc bag them. They won’t asphyxiate.

Chuck · by Chuck » Sat May 10, 2025 10:52 pm

I’d vote no on the freezer. While true that last winter the outdoor temp was lower than the freezer, and antiopa comes out on sunny days in March, what’s the loss rate in nature? It’s probably high.

Plus there are localized temperature tolerance in all animals. Inuits play ball when I would literally be dying. Floridians wear coats while tourists are in the pool.

Low fertility has many causes, temperature would be a least concern.

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Sat May 10, 2025 3:27 pm

Thank you all, those are all factors, some of which I hadn't thought of.

We all have different temperatures for the fridge, the humidity factor is interesting, even using wet sponges in the veggie crisper, I cannot raise
the humidty to any significant amount, maybe that's how the appliance works, I don't know.

In any event- it seems I am still in a spot. Low fertility. Ok, that could be anything. I've had virtually every anomaly occur raising lepidoptera, it's a calculated risk and that's about it. As a seller, you either need to keep shipping cost down, so refunds aren't a big loss, or simply accept that it is a risk.

By the by- the Nymphalis antiopa

I raised last year and tried to hibernate, it didn't work, I only fed them once before storing them, clearly a mistake,I wish I'd simply let them go at this point. I kept them in the fridge, maybe the freezer would have worked.

adamcotton · by adamcotton » Sat May 10, 2025 8:20 am

I think it would be important to put Saturniidae inside a sealed container otherwise they would desiccate while in the fridge. Obviously they cannot replace any lost body water after removal from the fridge.

Adam.

bobw · by bobw » Sat May 10, 2025 7:49 am

I've used this method many times in the past and didn't notice reduced fertility, but I rarely kept them in the fridge for more than a few days. My fridge is always set at 4 degrees C. The insects are not fully dormant and do become weaker over time, I guess it's not too dissimilar to a cold day in natural conditions. One thing I have noticed is that when they're taken out they're desperate for a drink, I've found it helps if I take them out once a day, give them a feed and let them warm up for an hour before putting them back in the fridge.

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Fri May 09, 2025 11:31 pm

biscuit153,
It looks like this company ships only to Canada.
I tried to contact them, but there was no reply
(It could have gone to the spam, of course).

Chuck · by Chuck » Fri May 09, 2025 8:18 pm

Late May 02 through today May 09 was mostly overcast and cool with rain every day for eight days. There were two days with 3 hour periods of sun. Zero Tigers spotted. Shame too, the Lilacs are blooming in concert with the typical emergence.

Chuck · by Chuck » Fri May 09, 2025 5:32 pm

The temperature and duration tolerated, and with what effect, depends on the moth species. Attacus atlas does not like to be refrigerated AMHIK. I suspect that the more northern Saturnids would be more tolerant, and the Canadian May/ June species, which may endure frost anyway. <- bad grammar but you know what I mean.

Our fridge is set for 37F, which I wouldn't stick many species in for very long. Make it 47F and I'd think a lot of species would tolerate it, and for longer.

eurytides · by eurytides » Fri May 09, 2025 3:49 pm

I don’t have numbers on fertility but I have done this with silkmoths and they can live a month or more in the fridge. Their metabolism isn’t zero, so over time they do get weaker and use their fat stores.

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Fri May 09, 2025 2:42 pm

wollastoni wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 10:05 am There is now a security page checking you are human before accessing the forum.

It works too! It knew I was human. Somehow. Well, if it's using my camera, beware.

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Fri May 09, 2025 2:39 pm

Does anyone have an opinion about refrigerating an adult moth in order to increase it's lifespan and have a greater chance to mate?

The issue I am wondering is can this effect fertilility. One of last year's buyers told me they were refrigerating adults while waiting for another of the opposite sex.
Now I recieve email mentioning low fertility, it's a concern, because now I either end up with possibly some 500 caterpillars I can never take care of,
or lose money dolling refunds later.

I can see where this might work, but I think temperature would be a factor.
Before you ask, the parents were wild caught in June of 2024 and I raised the larva.

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Fri May 09, 2025 1:24 pm

It is already done.
I have also add some anti bots measures in our htaccess file and so on.

I hope it will be enough. There are other solutions but at a high price...

Chuck · by Chuck » Fri May 09, 2025 12:50 pm

Thanks Olivier. Keep our fingers crossed. AI can of course click that box, but should make it a bit harder now.

I wonder if the hosting company can be asked to limit traffic (ie block masses of DoS messages).

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