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> Boring a hole in the head, and then another hole in the chest According to the article and the instructions[1] there is only one hole and it is in the thorax

by gnerd 13y ago

> Boring a hole in the head, and then another hole in the chest According to the article and the instructions[1] there is only one hole and it is in the thorax (through the exoskeleton), which is the middle section and not the head at all (remember from primary school biology, insects have a head, thorax and abdomen). Not making a case for or against this method or product, just saying. [1] http://wiki.backyardbrains.com/RoboRoach_Surgery http://wiki.backyardbrains.com/RoboRoach_Surgery

thaumasiotes 13y ago
I was referring to this: > sandpaper is used to remove the waxy coating on the shell of the insect's head. I interpreted the waxy coating as being something that was part of the head. Could be wrong.
- gnerd 13y ago
  It is on the head, but it isn't a hole. I imagined it to be more like filing the smooth surface of one of your nails at there are no nerve endings located in the exoskeleton (which is why insects shed their chitin exoskeletons until maturity). Chitin is the arthropods version of keratin (the stuff your hair and nails are made of).
  - thaumasiotes 13y ago
    If someone filed down my nails to the point where they were gone, I'd be more than a little distressed. The skin under the nails is incredibly sensitive (I believe it becomes less so over time when exposed to the air, but we are talking about filing off a protective coating here). If they wouldn't grow back (no idea whether that applies to the cockroaches or not), I'd feel much worse.
    - gnerd 13y ago
      I said filing the smooth surface of the nails, not filing all the way through the nail. It is the same as what woman do when they stick fake nails over their real nails... they simply rough up the surface for adhesive purposes, not file the entire nail away. There are other, more logical, reasons to be outraged if that is your position on this. > If they wouldn't grow back (no idea whether that applies to the cockroaches or not), I'd feel much worse. The waxy surface will not grow back, well not if they do the more ethical approach as they would only perform this on mature cockroaches who will not shed any longer. Again, not supporting or attacking their approach. I think the purpose seems to be the ethical grey area for me. For instance, the black rhino is considered extinct (last I checked) and how we save the white rhinos is by removing their keratin horns to stop poachers. Am I happy we have to do that? Certainly not, however, I'd rather have that then no white rhinos.

by gnerd 13y ago

thaumasiotes 13y ago

I was referring to this: > sandpaper is used to remove the waxy coating on the shell of the insect's head. I interpreted the waxy coating as being something that was part of the head. Could be wrong.

gnerd 13y ago
It is on the head, but it isn't a hole. I imagined it to be more like filing the smooth surface of one of your nails at there are no nerve endings located in the exoskeleton (which is why insects shed their chitin exoskeletons until maturity). Chitin is the arthropods version of keratin (the stuff your hair and nails are made of).
- thaumasiotes 13y ago
  If someone filed down my nails to the point where they were gone, I'd be more than a little distressed. The skin under the nails is incredibly sensitive (I believe it becomes less so over time when exposed to the air, but we are talking about filing off a protective coating here). If they wouldn't grow back (no idea whether that applies to the cockroaches or not), I'd feel much worse.
  - gnerd 13y ago
    I said filing the smooth surface of the nails, not filing all the way through the nail. It is the same as what woman do when they stick fake nails over their real nails... they simply rough up the surface for adhesive purposes, not file the entire nail away. There are other, more logical, reasons to be outraged if that is your position on this. > If they wouldn't grow back (no idea whether that applies to the cockroaches or not), I'd feel much worse. The waxy surface will not grow back, well not if they do the more ethical approach as they would only perform this on mature cockroaches who will not shed any longer. Again, not supporting or attacking their approach. I think the purpose seems to be the ethical grey area for me. For instance, the black rhino is considered extinct (last I checked) and how we save the white rhinos is by removing their keratin horns to stop poachers. Am I happy we have to do that? Certainly not, however, I'd rather have that then no white rhinos.