How not to kill a tick.

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

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specious_reasons
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:46 pm
Location: Woodridge, IL

How not to kill a tick.

Post by specious_reasons »

My attempts at improving a picture of this tick:
Image

were cut short by the fact that submerging it in 50% alcohol for 3 hours was insufficient to kill/incapacitate it.

The focus stack I created had the following problems:
- too much reflection - I didn't use a diffused light source.
- The steps were probably too large (I was trying to go quickly because the tick was still moving on me.)
- Even though I was going as quickly as possible, the tick still moved.
- I covered the tick with a slide, not a slide cover (Probably the least of my problems.)

I was able to use about half the stack to get this:
Image

curt0909
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Post by curt0909 »

I'm surprised he survived that. Next time try 5 minutes in the freezer.

specious_reasons
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:46 pm
Location: Woodridge, IL

Post by specious_reasons »

curt0909 wrote:I'm surprised he survived that. Next time try 5 minutes in the freezer.
I thought of that - after the purging flames.

This tick was definitely impaired, but not dead. It was pretty consistently covered in bubbles, so I think it never went entirely lacking in oxygen. It was also pretty bloated, so I doubt the alcohol was absorbed as deeply as I'd have liked.

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

Nice capture of the chelicerae -- the cutting parts on the end of the snout.

Very hot water is also a standard method of killing non-hairy critters. I'm not sure how durable ticks are to freezing, but cooking will definitely do them in.

--Rik

specious_reasons
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:46 pm
Location: Woodridge, IL

Post by specious_reasons »

rjlittlefield wrote:Nice capture of the chelicerae -- the cutting parts on the end of the snout.

Very hot water is also a standard method of killing non-hairy critters. I'm not sure how durable ticks are to freezing, but cooking will definitely do them in.

--Rik
Thanks on both. There's always value in a picture, even if I'm not very satisfied with the results. I'm hoping I don't have the opportunity to observe a tick any time soon.

Mitch640
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Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:43 pm

Post by Mitch640 »

I know a guy who has been pickled in alcohol for over 40 years and he's still moving.

But a bug? hardy beasts.

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