Making old leaves!

A

AlexW

Eudicella
Instructions on rotting wood are not hard to locate. Instructions for making rotted leaves seem nonexistent, though. Here is my attempt, which is currently in progress. Will update blog post as wet leaves age.

goo.gl/FhMLSF

 
I’m probably wrong, but I think you can rot them much like you would wood. My guess is to put the leaves in a bucket, wet them so they’re damp, and add flour or some other type of accelerator. After all that, go out to a forest where rotten leaves are common (or even pinestraw) dig an inch or two down to the layer where the leaves are a whitish yellow/orangish color, and add that to the mix (the yellow/orange coloring is a fungus that decays the leaves, grubs love the stuff!). If it works, you would probably start seeing mushrooms before too long (I wouldn’t recommend stirring the mix, since it’s decaying by fungus and stirring it would destroy any bodies) as the fungus obviously does (the mushrooms are usually about 1.5” tall and light brown). Like I said, it probably wouldn’t work, but it’s probably worth a try?

 
Bugboy3092 said:
I’m probably wrong, but I think you can rot them much like you would wood. My guess is to put the leaves in a bucket, wet them so they’re damp, and add flour or some other type of accelerator. After all that, go out to a forest where rotten leaves are common (or even pinestraw) dig an inch or two down to the layer where the leaves are a whitish yellow/orangish color, and add that to the mix (the yellow/orange coloring is a fungus that decays the leaves, grubs love the stuff!). If it works, you would probably start seeing mushrooms before too long (I wouldn’t recommend stirring the mix, since it’s decaying by fungus and stirring it would destroy any bodies) as the fungus obviously does (the mushrooms are usually about 1.5” tall and light brown). Like I said, it probably wouldn’t work, but it’s probably worth a try?
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My blog post links to an old beetleforum thread from 2015 where I tried to rot them fermenting-wood style, except without the flour (I am suspicious of it). It became isopod-edible, but still smelled a bit herbaceously unpleasant at the end. This attempt is a trial-and-error session to perfect the technique, because forests are currently inconvenient right now.

So basically I'm just keeping them damp in a closed container and waiting.
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The fermentation isn’t the important part, it’s the fungus decaying the leaves, thankfully it can be found in forests year-round as mycelium. Maybe we should all try different techniques eh? (That was a joke)

 
AlexW said:
Update two: same as update 1. The loquat leaf is doomed, will chuck out the window
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I haven’t tried my theory yet, but I did visit your blog! I think I’m gonna try telling “Alex” or “Trevor” (if that’s even their real names) that I have a simandoa conserfariam infestation (evil laugh). Maybe if you throw in some decayed leaves (decayed by fungus) to the mix it’ll work
 
Bugboy3092 said:
I havent tried my theory yet, but I did visit your blog! I think Im gonna try telling Alex or Trevor (if thats even their real names) that I have a simandoa conserfariam infestation (evil laugh). Maybe if you throw in some decayed leaves (decayed by fungus) to the mix itll work
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Simandoa aint funny enough. I tried Therea and Panchlora and they fell for it multiple times (see my roachforum post). Showing the green widow chat photo to confront them about their ignorance failed though (they made some excuses like Im an extermination expert, not an arachnologist; the widow may or may not be present)
Also, two humans cannot share the same photo. Fakery is quite obvious.

On an increasingly tangential note: Mwahaha, I have sent the incriminating evidence to Whatsthatbug.com for public shaming!

 
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AlexW said:
Simandoa aint funny enough. I tried Therea and Panchlora and they fell for it multiple times (see my roachforum post). Showing the green widow chat photo to confront them about their ignorance failed though (they made some excuses like Im an extermination expert, not an arachnologist; the widow may or may not be present)

Also, two humans cannot share the same photo. Fakery is quite obvious.

On an increasingly tangential note: Mwahaha, I have sent the incriminating evidence to Whatsthatbug.com for public shaming!
Click to expand...
Lol, I just thought simandoa would be hilarious because it’s extinct in the wild (btw, I’m finally getting some of them!) How could anyone be dumb enough to believe that therea, or any polyphagid for that matter, could actually infest a House, nonetheless establish a growing population? I can’t wait to see how they get exterminated (pun obviously intended) by Whatsthatbug. Btw, I’ve always been interested in the way that panchlora Nivea nymphs turn green in their final molt, got any advice for care on these, since I plan to find some this summer.
 
Update 3: magnolia apparently stuck in suspended animation. The aromatic oils have not dissipated and they may have antimicrobial properties. Will continue project just in case

 
If shrimps and roaches eat it, it should be safe for other inverts, right?

(Of course, the oils may still be harmful unless they are destroyed)

 
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