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Post by timoinsects on Jan 22, 2012 6:43:42 GMT -8
saw a picture from Frankfurit bug show,picked up from a site. anyone interest dung balls? how to preserve a dung ball specimen? Attachments:
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Post by lepidofrance on Jan 22, 2012 8:41:51 GMT -8
The more convenient would be to use ping-pong balls painted in brown colour !!  |
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Post by prillbug2 on Jan 22, 2012 11:05:03 GMT -8
You can't. Eventually, the eggs hatch, and the grubs emerge, and they break apart. But then, the other method might be to let them fossilize over time.
Jeff Prill
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Post by nomihoudai on Jan 22, 2012 12:03:05 GMT -8
Can't you just deep freeze them? Deep freezing kills of the bacteria too and the dung should stop to smell.
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Post by africaone on Jan 22, 2012 13:46:26 GMT -8
" .... Deep freezing kills of the bacteria too ...."  there only one way to kill surely bacteria via temperature, is the hot not the freeze ! may be microwave also , I never tried ! or alcohool ? |
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Post by prillbug2 on Jan 22, 2012 15:12:06 GMT -8
Alcohol would break it apart. Remember this is dung, and most likely vegetable based excrement, which is not very stable.
Jeff Prill
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Post by wingedwishes on Jan 22, 2012 17:11:12 GMT -8
Heat it in the oven..... I can imagine the odor. Heat would also dessicate it.
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Post by orthoptera on Jan 22, 2012 17:31:31 GMT -8
...an airtight container heavily fumigated with moth crystals??!!
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Post by timoinsects on Jan 22, 2012 19:54:08 GMT -8
seriouslly to say,Ping-Ping ball is really a good/creative idea for the display specimen making. also need to piant some soil ashes on also.
unstable,yes a problem. and bacteria is another problem.freeze may dry it but can't 100% guarantee to kill bacteria,then the mold become avablable in future. should learn more from the experienced dung-ball specimen makers.
such big soild dung balls perhaps can be found only in africa (dry land). i came across the dung balls several times here,but very small and not soild,porridge-like style made by small dung beetles,they work every day.
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Post by downundermoths on Jan 23, 2012 5:18:03 GMT -8
Just use the museum technique of soaking in dilute PVA glue and allow to dry... The external PVA will dry as a clear, colourless film...This also works on fossils, birds nests and many other things.
It also gives the collector the opportunity to kill the contents first in a chamber filled with chloroform, ethyl acetate etc before soaking in the glue, or the internal larvae might be allowed to escape normally by boring through the glue exterior without any disintegration of the ball.
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