Space Grant Consortium - University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

delicate structures (hairs). N o further changes were observed through day 14. The vial
was sealed and shipped to UW-Parkside on day 14.
JB9: 22. June. 2009
Phyllophaga a nxia ( adult); 0.16g. The b eetle w as pul verized t o a f ine p owder us ing a
mortar an d p estle. A few l arger “flakes” o f exoskeleton remained in the powder. The
crushed beetle was placed to a scintillation vial and 3 ml Na-Silicate was added. The cap
of this vial was sealed tightly to prevent desiccation. Initially, most of the particulate
matter s ettled to th e b ottom o f the v ial, a nd w as c overed w ith th e mil ky N a-silicate
solution. S ome pieces of exoskeleton floated on the surface. The vial was tilted gently
by hand to mix contents. The viscosity of the Na-silicate was noticeably higher after 24
hours, but a true gel had not formed at that time (see experiment JB10). By 48 hours, a
gel ha d formed. G el w as da rk ( brownish i n s pots) a nd contained vi sible pa rts o f t he
crushed b eetle. This gel w as not e ntirely s olid. If vi al was t ilted on s ide, gel s lowly
flowed ove r t ime--similar t o our alcohol e xperiments ( Liesch a nd K olb, 2007) . N o
further changes were observed through day 14. The vial was sealed and shipped to UW-
Parkside on day 14. (Note: this sample is currently under observation at UW-Parkside for
further changes in gel consistency).
JB10: 22. June. 2009
Phyllophaga a nxia ( adult); 0.21g. The b eetle w as pul verized t o a f ine p owder us ing a
mortar and pestle. A few larger “flakes” of exoskeleton remained in the powder. The
crushed beetle was placed to a scintillation vial along with 3 ml Na-Silicate. The cap of
this v ial w as k ept l oosely secured t o allow for desiccation. Initially, mo st o f th e
particulate matter settled to the bottom of the vial, and was covered with the milky Nasilicate
solution. Some pieces of exoskeleton floated on the surface. The vial was tilted
gently by hand to mix contents. A gel had formed within 24 hours (1 day faster that when
vial was sealed). The gel was dark (brownish in spots) and parts of the crushed beetle
were visible throughout. Interestingly, the gel was not entirely solid: if vial was tilted on
side, gel slowly flowed over time--similar to our alcohol experiments (Liesch and Kolb,
2007). No further changes observed through day 14. The vial was sealed and shipped to
UW-Parkside on da y 1 4. ( Note: t his s ample is c urrently unde r obs ervation a t UW-
Parkside for further changes in gel consistency).
Work done at UW-Parkside
As t he s amples were r eceived, t hey were phot ographed b y the U W-Parkside’s
professional phot ographer, D on Lintner, from t he M edia S ervices. Thus, a p ermanent
record was made o f the appearance of each sample in terms of color, transparency and
other details. M onitoring of the samples in which gel has not yet solidified continues.
The IR studies of the insect parts prior to and after the silicification will begin shortly.
The latter studies will disturb the gel structure and appearance and this is the reason why
the photographs of the samples had to be taken first. We shall be looking for the IR bands
specifically associated with chitin, and will try to assign as many other bands in the IR
spectra as we can. We shall then repeat the IR studies after 2-3 months and afterwards, at
19