41 replies to this topic

[Screamer]

What’s up everybody? As the title says, I have a bit of a strange request with some incentives. This is obviously a toy blog but you guys are my only real form of contact that basically stretches everywhere. For one of my senior projects I am making a museum quality insect collection that in all likeliness will be donated to my University. I am extending my reach beyond my region because there are currently very few insects out due to the season and weather conditions. What could be a long story that I will try to keep short, I am looking to acquire any strange insects that may inhabit other parts of the country or abroad. I do not have many toys for trade so I am offering a modest cash reward. This will hopefully get some people outside to enjoy nature.

 

Details:

-It really depends on the individual insect but would be offering $0.50-$5 per individual. The more unique, the higher the pay out is.

- No bees (honey, bumble etc.)! No spiders or arachnids! I am mostly after beetles, wasps etc. amongst many others.

-I would ask that they be no smaller than 3/4 of an inch (approximately).

-The insects must be intact, no missing wings, legs or antennae.

-If you are interested in lending a hand that is awesome! But I hope that if you are going to help that you are able to acquire more than one insect (shipping is expensive).

-I also ask that the insects be in relative large abundance in your region. I am only after one individual from any one species.

-Deadline: I must receive the insects by May 27^th.

-The opportunity to make some good money is here! Especially if you live in a region with lots of insects, so get out there and start collecting.

 

Collecting: There are several ways to collect and capture these insects that can be found online. The easiest way without getting into it might be to catch them in a jar containing some paper towel and put it in the freezer to kill them and then safely package them up.

 

Please PM me with any questions/concerns/details and/or deals. Thanks guys and gals!

Edited by ScreaminMeemie, 17 April 2014 - 12:45 AM.

[Behemoth]

I know some mosquitos but they charge $400 an hour for their services...

[ironmask]

So wait... You're in high school?

 

************

 

(I was setting up a joke, haha, but Bachamn killed my heat, haha, so fuggetaboudit)

Edited by ironmask, 17 April 2014 - 05:57 AM.

[Beastformers]

I only know of two within my field of expertise; 

 

 

A Dragonfly and Grashopper but they´re worth a bit more than $5 to me sorry

 

But back on topic I assume you´d like people to collect them in the best possible condition (almost like toys ) which means they most likely should go after live insects and kill these. Any suggestions about how to do that without slamming them because insect pulp is obviously not what your looking for. Don´t know if there´s some trick you suggest to do this, I know about blowing smoke from a sigar in a glas or something that will kill the insect because of the lack of oxygen. We have quite a few different insects here at the moment but not sure if that would be interesting. Not sure if its even legal to send insects abroad!?! 

 

And I obviously don´t want to get caught as some kind of International insect smuggler LOL 

Edited by Beastformers, 17 April 2014 - 05:49 AM.

[bachamn]

So wait... You're in high school?

 

....that in all likeliness will be donated to my University.

 

This is an interesting request; I might take you up on it. \

 

As far as killing them, I'd say suffocation in a jar is the best approach without damaging them. You can get one of those hand-held bug zapper swatters for flying bugs like wasps (usually just stuns them though, but would be enough time to put into a jar for  suffocation)

 

I feel kind of creepy after typing that last paragraph.

Edited by bachamn, 17 April 2014 - 05:56 AM.

[ironmask]

[bachamn]

[plasticfiend]

DO you want to give a bit more of a list of what you are looking for (and price ranges)?  It might help... 

 

 

PF!

[Screamer]

 

This is an interesting request; I might take you up on it. \

 

As far as killing them, I'd say suffocation in a jar is the best approach without damaging them. You can get one of those hand-held bug zapper swatters for flying bugs like wasps (usually just stuns them though, but would be enough time to put into a jar for  suffocation)

 

I feel kind of creepy after typing that last paragraph.

 

Haha. Pretty much. No it's for an entomology course I am taking which is actually pretty fascinating. Basically, as part of the class we are to trap the insects, keep them intact and pin them in a glass display box and identify them. I have to encompass 25 orders, 45 families and attempt to ID 50% of the collection down to species. The best way to catch them would be with an insect net but I know that is not that practical. The next best way would be to put them directly into a jar (hands, sticks, paper etc). Ideally the jar would contain a cotton ball dampened with ethyl acetate (also not entirely practical) and a paper towel for them to sit on. This knocks them out within a few minutes while keeping them intact. The next best thing would be to put some nail polish (contains diluted ethyl acetate) between a couple pieces of newspaper at the bottom of the jar with some paper towel on top and loose within it. And if that is still a reach than just get them into the jar the best way you see fit to not damage them and put them in the freezer. They will likely deteriorate pretty quickly if just allowed to sit in the jar too long. In any jar method they will have to be put in the freezer while stored and before being sent to me.

 

But back on topic I assume you´d like people to collect them in the best possible condition (almost like toys ) which means they most likely should go after live insects and kill these. Any suggestions about how to do that without slamming them because insect pulp is obviously not what your looking for. Don´t know if there´s some trick you suggest to do this, I know about blowing smoke from a sigar in a glas or something that will kill the insect because of the lack of oxygen. We have quite a few different insects here at the moment but not sure if that would be interesting. Not sure if its even legal to send insects abroad!?! 

 

And I obviously don´t want to get caught as some kind of International insect smuggler LOL 

 

It is unlikely that they would check but is also possible so it is a very legit question. Sending abroad, we may both get into some heat depending on where they are sent from and what species they are. Perhaps better off not to risk it... but

I would be willing to take that chance if you are. Totally up to you

 

DO you want to give a bit more of a list of what you are looking for (and price ranges)?  It might help... 

 

 

PF!

 

It really is dependent on the insect. The bigger the better, the stranger the better. It would be difficult to give an actual breakdown because insects are quite diverse and vary greatly upon geographical locations. A large 3 inch beetle I would offer $4-5 for. A smaller 1 inch beetle I would give $1-2 for. A wasp that is 1.5-2 inches I would offer $3 for. I probably wouldn't offer less than a dollar on anything if it is atleast an inch. I am not going to measure them and I do not have any strict go to price sheet. I will offer what I think is fair so you would have to trust that I would give what I think would be a fair value. Grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, beetles, wasps, stink bugs, mantis, stick bugs... Basically any insect! So long as it is intact and roughly an inch in length.

 

 

Legal bud and insect hunting... My kind of day

Edited by ScreaminMeemie, 17 April 2014 - 10:16 PM.

[Jet-Mech]

That's some hell of a request. I'll see what I can do; just bear in mind that some might be drowned. I can promise, though, that I won't just scrape them off the hood and grill of my truck.

[Screamer]

I forgot to mention that I have to recognize who caught the insect and the general location (country, state and city/park). This will be pinned with and remain with the insect. My entire collection will be donated to the University of Washington. This class is offered once a year to 40 students and previous students specimens have ended up in many museums including our local Burke Museum. It will be cool to think that a bug that I/you caught could end up in a museum with my or your name on it. Perhaps I am just a dork like that

[Screamer]

That's some hell of a request. I'll see what I can do; just bear in mind that some might be drowned. I can promise, though, that I won't just scrape them off the hood and grill of my truck.

Drowned is ok and actually one of the choice methods for collecting insects so long as they are retrieved relatively soon and stored. There is also pit-fall traps, light traps and many others that are easy to set up and require very little maintenance (other than collecting from). You can search for how these are made amongst many others.

[Ericnilla]

OH! weird, I thought you were looking for Insect toys. haha

[imperfecz]

We have some nasty big roaches near here, and scorpions a plenty... well not at my house on that last one, but they're here. Too bad this didn't come up earlier, as there was a massive centipede in the office about a month ago.

[bachamn]

If the cicada killers start showing up soon, I'll muster my courage and try to take one on. I actually saw one of these bastards flying while holding onto a cicada last year; pretty huge and terrifying. You guys have those up there?

 

 

Also, regarding shipping; would you need them sent in dry ice? Or via express to prevent deterioration?

[plasticfiend]

Bachamn -

 

I've seen those things TOO!  They are NASTY... poor Cicada's never stand a chance.  I saw one when I was younger straddling a cicada on the way down for a crash landing (you could hear the buzzing) and I ran over screaming at the wasp and scared it away.  The cicada was barely alive and I kept him for a few minutes and eventually it died.  I assume it's venom or somthing that maybe poisins or paralizes the cicada.

 

Mother nature is a cruel mistress...

 

PF!

[Screamer]

OH! weird, I thought you were looking for Insect toys. haha

It would be funny to pin some insect toys in my box. Make up a species and credit whomever I traded with....don't think that would go over very well tho.

 

We have some nasty big roaches near here, and scorpions a plenty... well not at my house on that last one, but they're here. Too bad this didn't come up earlier, as there was a massive centipede in the office about a month ago.

Roaches are awesome! Would be interested in those for sure

 

If the cicada killers start showing up soon, I'll muster my courage and try to take one on. I actually saw one of these bastards flying while holding onto a cicada last year; pretty huge and terrifying. You guys have those up there?

 

 

Also, regarding shipping; would you need them sent in dry ice? Or via express to prevent deterioration?

Haha. Those are incredible!! Just read up on them. We do not have them in my area at all. Looks like mostly the midwest/east/south. If they are stored quickly in the freezer after capture (8 hours or so) and then removed the morning before shipping or stored frozen in the container to be shipped in, they would be fine in first class mail. A small, sturdy cardboard box filled with tissue paper/toilet paper would work great. Try to keep the wings held back, along the center line rather than spread out. The insect(s) would need to be placed in the center of the tissue paper mass to prevent damage. As long as they are captured alive the worst case scenario is they will dry out but I can always rehydrate them for pinning which is no big deal. For one of these I would make an acception and offer you $6.50, $9 with shipping. If you were to capture two of them I would offer you $12 with shipping. I just found out that I can trade people so a second one of those would be great trade fodder   

 

I would also be interseted in any cicadas...

 

Bachamn -

 

I've seen those things TOO!  They are NASTY... poor Cicada's never stand a chance.  I saw one when I was younger straddling a cicada on the way down for a crash landing (you could hear the buzzing) and I ran over screaming at the wasp and scared it away.  The cicada was barely alive and I kept him for a few minutes and eventually it died.  I assume it's venom or somthing that maybe poisins or paralizes the cicada.

 

Mother nature is a cruel mistress...

 

PF!

Not exactly the same concept but I am doing one of my term papers on Ichneumonids. They are a family of parasitic wasps that lay their eggs in a living insect. The host lives a pretty normal life for some time but basically becomes a zombie as the larvae matures. The larvae uses the hosts tissue for nurishment until it is ready to leave and breaks out of the host, killing it. The relationship between each wasp species and its host is pretty unique. By that I mean each species of wasp utilizes a specific species of host in a specific stage of life. Pretty awesome if you ask me and a prime example of coevolution.

[bachamn]

I had my first (non Cicada Killer) hornet attempt to come inside over the weekend and used  my proposed method. Stunned him with the electric swatter long enough to scoop into a plastic container, but I didn't have any nail polish remover or anything else to gas him with so I just popped the whole thing in the freezer. Assuming that will do it? 

 

The cicadas themselves haven't made it out yet here but once they do I'll keep a lookout for some.

 

They are a family of parasitic wasps that lay their eggs in a living insect. The host lives a pretty normal life for some time but basically becomes a zombie as the larvae matures.

Those things are terrifying. Then there's this straight out of Nausicaa

Edited by bachamn, 22 April 2014 - 05:54 AM.

[plasticfiend]

Oy Vey Bachamn -

 

somehow I went from watching that video, to watching videos about maggots and pork.  Ugh. 

 

Lol...

 

PF!

[Rubberhammer]

How about velvet ants?

I beleive they are technically a wasp, (they will sting the holy bejeezus outta you!)
I have run across a couple already this year.

[doc_moore_j]

You guys should post pics of the critters you catch.  I will see what I can find here in Colorado.  Its cold here so not many insects out and about.  Why dont you want arachnids?  We have black widows here by the plenty, I could probably crawl under my house this afternoon and get you a big one.  During the summer I often see these really neat bright blue mud dauber wasps.  I would love to catch one of those for you, but they scare me hahaha.  What about praying mantis?  I see those fromt ime to time.  If I find anything, I would send you free most likely.  I'll keep a look out.

 

Edit:  Dont bother answering most of my questions, I see you already had a few posts back, I just didnt read everything.  Still curious if you would want a black widow though?  They are kind of popular.

 

I took a picture of this leaf bug last summer, I hope i can find another one for you, I think they are neat.  It might be too cold here still for me to be much of help though.

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Edited by doc_moore_j, 23 April 2014 - 12:52 PM.

[Screamer]

 

I had my first (non Cicada Killer) hornet attempt to come inside over the weekend and used  my proposed method. Stunned him with the electric swatter long enough to scoop into a plastic container, but I didn't have any nail polish remover or anything else to gas him with so I just popped the whole thing in the freezer. Assuming that will do it? 

 

The cicadas themselves haven't made it out yet here but once they do I'll keep a lookout for some.

 

Those things are terrifying. Then there's this straight out of Nausicaa

 

Sweet. I had one of those electric fly swatters years ago. I would imagine it would work just fine so long as it doesn't damage them. Tossing it in the freezer works great. Kills them pretty quickly and preserves them.

 

I have seen those. Is that from the "Planet Earth" series maybe? David Attenborough rocks. I really enjoy his narrating of biology documentaries. He has been doing them for--e--ver!!

 

How about velvet ants?

I beleive they are technically a wasp, (they will sting the holy bejeezus outta you!)
I have run across a couple already this year.

Yea velvet ants would be awesome! Only the females, which are usually smaller, will sting you. The stinger is actually a modified sex organ. Its the same protusion you see on the abdomen of crickets and other non-stinging insects.

 

You guys should post pics of the critters you catch.  I will see what I can find here in Colorado.  Its cold here so not many insects out and about.  Why dont you want arachnids?  We have black widows here by the plenty, I could probably crawl under my house this afternoon and get you a big one.  During the summer I often see these really neat bright blue mud dauber wasps.  I would love to catch one of those for you, but they scare me hahaha.  What about praying mantis?  I see those fromt ime to time.  If I find anything, I would send you free most likely.  I'll keep a look out.

 

Edit:  Dont bother answering most of my questions, I see you already had a few posts back, I just didnt read everything.  Still curious if you would want a black widow though?  They are kind of popular.

 

I took a picture of this leaf bug last summer, I hope i can find another one for you, I think they are neat.  It might be too cold here still for me to be much of help though.

That leaf bug is amazing! Yea it really is kind of early to be collecting. Just still too cold in a lot of parts of the US, including my area. It still might even be too early for praying mantis. It is in my area at least. I travelled east of the Cascades for a couple weekends recently (much warmer part of Washington State) and I found a ton of mantis eggs but no adults. They usually hatch in spring and take all summer to grow before dying. So the ones at the end of summer are naturally way bigger than any you would find in spring. When they hatch they are actually quite small. I would be interested though if you do come across one.

 

That is very generous of you to send them free of charge, but I would not hold you to that. As for pictures I will definitely share my collection when it is more together so to speak. I have found some pretty cool insects with the help of some friends, family and class mates, as well as HOURS in the field looking.

 

Black widows are very cool. The issue with arachnids, including the widows, is that it is customary to store and present them in a mixture of ethanol. It is referred to as "pickling" and the mixture I use I make in the lab. The reason for pickling, other than being tradition (a lot of collecting/displaying is based on tradition) is that they are very "fleshy." They mold and shrivel up if they are pinned rather than pickled. It is an entomology course so the main focus is on "insects" in the academic sense. I do get credit for a couple arachnid specimens amongst other groups but I think it would just be too difficult to get a specimen shipped in and still preserve its integrity.

 

Here are some pictures of insects I found last summer at one camping spot I frequent. All of which remained alive and in the wild because it was well before my class. Had I only known...

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This last one is commonly called a "toe biter" because they live in fresh water and have been known to bite people when they enter the water. They can get quite large and have been described to have the most painful bite in the insect world. They often play dead and then come alive and bite you. They are kind of cool though. They live in the water but have wings so they are also able to fly.

[Screamer]

Hey everybody- I just wanted to update the thread and let everyone know there is just a couple short weeks left for those of you who are collecting or are interested in doing so. I also want to thank those who are participating. Please feel free to pm me with any questions or finds that you have. Thanks

[imperfecz]

We have some pretty nasty roaches around here... want anything like that?? Heck, I saw two mating and crossing the street at the same time while walking the dog the other night.....

[plasticfiend]

Wow! The roaches were having sex AND walking the dog...?! Now that's a couple of talented roaches! Kinky...

PF!