Preserving Bodies

[Antimony]

Spider bodies, not human bodies.

There is this Sun Spider in my yard that I am waiting patiently for to die, but once it dies, I have no idea how I am going to preserve it. If I can't figure it out, I will probably just dissect it, because I think that would be cool, even though I am mildly terrified of spiders.

Any ideas on preserving it?

 

[metaphours]

Formaldehyde?

 

[Antimony]

Household stuff.

 

[Biaxident]

Isopropyl alcohol (Rubbing alcohol). Preferably the 90% solution. Don't know where you live but they probably have it at a drug store.

 

[Antimony]

I think I do have rubbing alcohol. Will this work if the spider has died?

I read about killing it by placing it in the fridge, but I don't want to kill it.

 

[Biaxident]

Yes. Dead, alive, doesn't matter.

Unless it's squashed. Or been dead for a long enough time to start being eaten by others. In which case you should find another victim.

You may find after a while some of the color bleeds away. But unless you get it into some sort of solid preservative(like those bugs in glass or plastic paperweights, or amber), it's unavoidable.

 

[Antimony]

Alright, thanks

I will just keep finding specimens. I am very interested in spiders, and all the other kinds of animals and their workings.

How do I use rubbing alcohol to preserve it? Just put it in a jar or something with it?

 

[Biaxident]

Alright, thanks

I will just keep finding specimens. I am very interested in spiders, and all the other kinds of animals and their workings.

How do I use rubbing alcohol to preserve it? Just put it in a jar or something with it?

You and me both dear. Although I prefer to observe while still alive.

Yup, just like the worm in a bottle of tequila. Drop that sucker in there, and make fishy eyes at it. Just make sure it has a lid, that stuff burns when it gets in your eyes.

 

[Antimony]

You and me both dear. Although I prefer to observe while still alive.

Yup, just like the worm in a bottle of tequila. Drop that sucker in there, and make fishy eyes at it. Just make sure it has a lid, that stuff burns when it gets in your eyes.

I would so not eat a spider in rubbing alcohol!

Yeah, I prefer them living. They used to always live in my window, but for some reason they stopped. But it is going to die, so I may as well make use of it.

I like other animals too. I saved a praying mantis from Inside My Window last night (I have decided to capitalize Inside My Window, because it is like its own world haha) even though I am mildly worried about touching them.

All I used was tongs, tweezers to remove web, and old mayonnaise jar I used for paint water, and superior improvisation skills

 

[Biaxident]

Tongs?

Were you wearing Level 4 biohazard gear as well?

Otherwise you did well.

 

[kyuuei]

I had to look up what a sun spider was. I've always heard them called camel spiders.

 

[Biaxident]

They are cute little snookywookums. They need hugs.

 

[Antimony]

That isn't a sun spider. I don't live in the west, I live in the east.

I should have said yellow and black spider or something. It is typically called a garden spider or sun spider where I live.

Tongs?

Were you wearing Level 4 biohazard gear as well?

Otherwise you did well.

I had to think fast haha

I would diagram my window but I am much, much too lazy. It required something of the highest caliber

 

[kyuuei]

Oh! Google misled me!

 

[Biaxident]

I believe that is an Orb Weaver.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images/garspi3b.jpg

 

[Biaxident]

Oh! Google misled me!

You don't pick up a camel spider with tongs, I think you stab it with a pitchfork, or shoot it a few times first. Then pick up the pieces.

 

[Antimony]

I believe that is an Orb Weaver.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images/garspi3b.jpg

^ It probably is. It has way too many names.

I don't think it mislead you. This spider is called a hundred different things it seems. I just call it "one of those big yellow and black spiders" haha

 

[Oaky]

Oh I know! Mummify them! I heard the ancient egyptians used to mummify animals all the time!

 

[Antimony]

How on earth would I mummify a spider?!

 

[Biaxident]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Camel Spider. http://media.skateboard.com.au/forum/images/camle spider.jpg

Gotta draw the line somewhere.