Luna Moth discoloration

[papilio28570]

I harvested a crop of Luna Moths this spring and killed them by ammonia injection. Some of these moths shoe some sort of bleeding into the wings and it is not surface, but rather internal to the wings. See photo. Anyone have this experience and a remedy for future farming? Out of 120+ Luna Moths, this happened to about 30 of them, regardless of sex, but more prominent in male specimens.

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[Deleted]

Give it a try with Isopropanol.
I use Isopropanol, even though I have used ammonia without any problems before.
It might be due to the quantities of ammonia injected? or the way you injected it.

[Deleted]

I'm not a big fan of ammonia.

I use isopropyl alcohol like thadeos and have no such troubles. I try to get at least 70% from the drug store, but get 90% when I find it.....and it's cheap

[papilio28570]

Does it kill instantaneously? With ammonia they die as soon as you inject them. I wrestle with my thoughts of pain and suffering even though they may not have the capacity to experience the same sensations as we do.

[ckswank]

I've injected with isopropyl alcohol, as well. It's almost instantaneous. I have had the same staining with it on occasion when injecting ex pupa of several different species. Not sure if it has anything to do with the bodily fluid used to pump up the wings that perhaps had not all thoroughly returned to the body. Any thoughts?

Charlie

[Chris Grinter]

Injecting almost anything is pretty instantaneous. I usually use 90% ethanol, but even windex works in a pinch!

[wingedwishes]

Are you utilizing acetone or anything else to de grease?

[bobw]

Could it be that they were killed too soon after emergence before the wings had fully dried, and as Charlie suggested, that the fluid used to pump up the wings was still in the veins?

Bob