Euthanasia options

[selkielass]

I've never noticed several threads recommending that hopeless cases get 'Put in the freezer...' . While this is an effective method, there are quicker methods.

Squishing isn't for everyone, but quick complete destruction of the neural ganglia (Which in insects runs along the length of the body.), is fastest. I use this method for destroying surplus queen honeybees.

Dry ice is faster than a home freezer, if you have it. Small enclosed container plus a good sized chunk of dry ice quickly suffocates and/or freezes insects. Beekeepers sometimes use dry ice to euthanize contagious colonies before burning and burying

Alcohol kills quickly also. Drop the ill individual into a jar of rubbing alcohol or high proof liquor- Death takes only seconds and you are left with a preserved specimen that can later be mounted if desired.

Killing jars are always an option. A cotton ball or paper towel saturated with fast acting pesticide, acetone or ether will kill quickly. Of these ether is probably the most humane as it acts as an anesthesia.

Ether based starting fluids are easy to get at car supply stores- here is the MSDS on a type that is 50% ether.

http://www.imperialsupplies.com/msds0065800.shtml

Any toxic substance should, of course be used far away from any other insects, and containers exposed to these substances should be discarded or carefully labeled as toxic and only used for euthanasia.

 

[selkielass]

Feh. Apologies for the extra words inserted by my smartphone. I can't seem to edit them out not that its posted. Please mentally edit them out yourself.

 

[Orin]

I say keep a big orange head colony for feeders and to take out the defectives. Quick cyle of life.

 

[selkielass]

Do you mean orange head roaches?

I would think feeding sick mantis to feeders that will then be fed back to mantis could spread viral and bacterial diseases.

Mad bug disease?

 

[Orin]

You're assuming the mantis died from some mysterious illness rather than inadequate husbandry, the usual culprit.

 

[selkielass]

At my level of experience I'd have trouble telling the difference.

Parasites in feeders are a big concern for snake keepers, so it pops to mind when I think about insects eating insects who eat other insects.

So mantis aren't prone to collection wiping diseases like snakes, moths and in a way, honeybees?

(I'm trying to learn. No sarcasm intended.)

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Does anyone have any experience with CO2 chambers for mantis euthanasia? I know the dry ice is one way to do this but I am more interested in the tanks which are cheaper and can be easily stored in between usage. My big questions for anyone who has tried the method would be how quickly they work and does the mantis appear distressed during the process? For me it would be all about finding the most peaceful method for both mantis and human.

 

[Ranitomeya]

I have snakes, so I've used CO2 euthanasia for mice.

Once, I had an escaped cricket that jumped into the CO2 chamber, and it became immobile after just a second at the bottom of the container. It was pretty fast an unexpected.

I fed the cricket to something, so I'm not sure if it's one of those things where a seemingly dead insect might come back to life after losing access to breathable air, such as when an insect is fished out of the pool and revived by warmth and air.