Catch a Cockerfly

 by randofo
Featured
main1.jpg
main2.jpg
main3.jpg
main4.jpg
main5.jpg
main6.jpg
A cockerfly is a member of the insect family that is best described as a cross between a cockroach and a butterfly. Its official species name is Noahivius Weinsteinicus. This name was derived by adding a whole bunch of Latin-sounding things to the name of its initial discoverer, Noah Weinstein.

Very few living specimens of the cockerfly are known to exist. As such, very little information is available about the insect. One thing that us scientists know for certain is that while the standard cockerfly can withstand large doses of nuclear radiation, they are extremely fragile creatures and are brittle to human touch.

The cockerfly's natural predator is the domesticated cat. Predation accounts for their low population numbers as cockerflies are only found in highly urbanized areas populated by abnormal amounts of domesticated cats. Unsuccessful efforts have been taken to increase their population numbers by breeding them in captivity. Despite their best efforts, scientists were unable to set the mood to encourage mating amongst cockerflies. Scientists' spouses were not surprised.

On account of people's love of cats, and scientists always showing up to ruin the mood, it is likely that the cockerfly may go extinct in our lifetime. They are currently on the list of endangered species. In spite of rapidly dwindling populations, very few people are upset.

Considering that the continuation of the species is pretty much a lost cause, follows are instructions on how to help accelerate the extinction of the cockerfly through the acquisition and preservation of your very own specimen.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Go get stuff

1A.jpg
1B.jpg
You will need:

A scalpel
Tweezers
Dental picks
#2 insect pins
A sealable jar
A refrigerator
A roach problem
A dead butterfly
Krazy Glue
A cardboard surface
The ability to hold your breath

(note: this will not work if you own a domesticated cat)

1-40 of 45Next »
pcairic says: Mar 6, 2011. 3:57 PM
You eat steak
PikminRed says: May 1, 2010. 11:24 AM
(removed by author or community request)
dombeef in reply to PikminRedJan 8, 2011. 1:28 PM
I so want to do that, but I haven't been able to catch a fly yet.
My brother will freak out if he sees that
Ghost Wolf says: Jan 6, 2011. 9:55 AM
Look what I did cyborg roach!
robo-roach.jpg
GreenDreamers says: Apr 27, 2010. 4:31 PM

I would reccomend using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol in a sealable jar with the cockroach.  It kills them in like 10-20 minutes compared to 2-3 hours in the freezer.  It works on all kinds of insects.

dombeef in reply to GreenDreamersMay 2, 2010. 6:36 PM
 But thats just mean...
Ghost Wolf in reply to dombeefJan 6, 2011. 9:46 AM
Well when you mom put a lobster in a boiling pot of water does she consider humane? (yes) Kills them the second they drop in.

Do I like animal being killed, no but is the way of life
Arbitror says: May 2, 2010. 8:24 AM
Lol, at first I thought this was just a type of really fat butterfly...
smokebox says: Apr 29, 2010. 8:54 AM
I probably wouldn't sacrifice a butterfly for this project but you might try carbon tetrachloride (Carbona) as a killing agent.  It used to be a favorite chemical of  butterfly hunters which would instantly drop them out of the air when sprayed in a stream from a metal garden sprayer.  One drop anywhere on a wing would be sudden death.  It should work on cockroaches well enough, but definitely not as a pest control indoors where humans and pets live.

It was banned from use as a dry cleaner in laundry shops because too much exposure  causes liver and brain damage and cancer, and the vapor remains in clothes for too long.  It might still be available among stain removal chemicals in department or hardware stores, however.
randofo (author) in reply to smokeboxApr 29, 2010. 11:06 AM
Liver, brain damage and cancer...? ...I think I will stick with putting things in the freezer.
Subconscionaut in reply to randofoApr 29, 2010. 10:47 PM
besides, whatever happened to the Ether Bunny?
smokebox in reply to SubconscionautApr 30, 2010. 7:19 PM
I don't know.  Haven't they proved he doesn't eggthitht?
Azayles in reply to SubconscionautApr 30, 2010. 2:00 PM
Do you catch those with an ether net? :P

Sorry, that was terrible.
smokebox in reply to AzaylesApr 30, 2010. 7:41 PM
A plausible fiery fate.
Lftndbt says: Apr 30, 2010. 4:41 AM
Oh c'mon Randy! When I saw your name I was expecting you to keep it alive, then release it back to whence it came for some unexpectant  person to find.

I live specimen when have scored you 10/10.

Give it another go, but with just 5 minutes in the freezer. Should give you 40 secs or so,  to glue wings on before it revives. 
randofo (author) in reply to LftndbtApr 30, 2010. 10:44 AM
Gluing butterfly wings onto a dead stationary cockroach is challenge enough for me.
jaysbob says: Apr 26, 2010. 8:38 PM
are those human bite marks on that roach hotel? o_O
oldanvilyoungsmith in reply to jaysbobApr 30, 2010. 6:27 AM
It's the easy way to rid yourself of a little brother. " Hey Joe, instead of annoying me, check out this cool cookie I got you (holds up roach motel) why don't you go chew on it"
randofo (author) in reply to jaysbobApr 26, 2010. 9:54 PM
It came that way. It was pre-bitten.
Ghost Wolf in reply to randofoJan 6, 2011. 9:54 AM
Don't make the roaches mad!
roach_mugging.jpg
Nxtfari says: Apr 29, 2010. 2:45 PM
My first thought when I was browsing through this Instructable, i thought you intended to keep a butterfly and a cockroach locked together in a jar until they crossbred. Then I realized that you were gluing the wings to the cockroach. Any butterfly is fine, but I hate cockroaches. If these cockerflies behave like cockroaches, than I'm more than fine with letting them go extinct.  Cockroaches are hard enough without the abilities to fly. What if they find jetpacks next? O_O
randofo (author) in reply to NxtfariApr 29, 2010. 5:45 PM
Oh. Good idea. Crossbreeding. I'll try that next. Maybe I'll expose them both to gamma radiation too. That seems to go well in the comic books.
Subconscionaut in reply to randofoApr 29, 2010. 10:44 PM
we tried cross breeding, but they either just muttered grumpily, started fights, or ignored each other. I guess it's just hard to get em feeling romantic when they're ticked off! ;}
bronwynnm in reply to NxtfariApr 29, 2010. 2:51 PM
You definitely don't want to come to Louisiana then, the screams you hear are when people find out that the 4 inch cockroaches (Palmetto Bugs) fly! lol. 
al_packer says: Apr 29, 2010. 10:30 PM
My brother had a roach control business in the LA area a few years back.  They used ordinary borax as an insecticide.  Seems that cockroaches are really very clean animals, and they groom themselves constantly.  When they get into the borax, they try to wipe it off, but the fine crystals are instead driven into the soft tissue between the sections of the exoskeleton.  The cockroach dies the "death of a thousand cuts".
tmross4 says: Apr 29, 2010. 5:55 PM
I lived in Los Angeles for a couple of years...I had a cockroach that ws about 5 inches long follow me down the street - it even crossed the street after me! But I don't know what was scarier, the roach following me, or the fact that it refused to follow me into Taco Bell! :) BTY, They also fly in L.A.! We had all types down there excepting for the hissers!
tmross4 says: Apr 29, 2010. 1:31 PM
Why kill a butterfly? A lot of them are disappearing. There are good fakes out there in the crafting stores.
randofo (author) in reply to tmross4Apr 29, 2010. 1:38 PM
I believe this one died of natural causes. Most of the places that sell preserved butterflies get them from butterfly farms.

http://www.butterfliesandart.com/Process/Process.htm
pteranosaur says: Apr 29, 2010. 1:38 PM
Thanks,sarcastically...I will never be able to view another butterfly again without wondering if a cockroach has stolen it's wings...and I hate cockroaches as much as flies
toadnoodle says: Apr 26, 2010. 11:15 AM
Finally someone shows the fun side of Entomology.
JesterPoet in reply to toadnoodleApr 27, 2010. 2:21 PM
Funniest comment ever.  Nice.
Kryptonite says: Apr 27, 2010. 4:36 AM
Hee hee that's so cool!
V-Man737 says: Apr 26, 2010. 8:50 PM
Did that make anyone else think of this YouTube Video?
randofo (author) in reply to V-Man737Apr 26, 2010. 9:54 PM
Ummm... nope. I can't say that it did.
firefliie says: Apr 26, 2010. 7:16 PM
psh....snicker...cockefly (bahahehehe...)
caitlinsdad says: Apr 26, 2010. 12:02 PM
 Be sure to label your freezer jar  as a science experiment or else someone may mistake it for a condiment or a place to put the baby teether toy, not unless the whole freezer is full of science experiments...
caitlinsdad in reply to caitlinsdadApr 26, 2010. 12:04 PM
 and just wait until the People for the Ethical Treatment of Insects start blasting here...
BeanGolem in reply to caitlinsdadApr 26, 2010. 4:28 PM
 Blasting here would be very petty of them...

(bwaaaahahahaha.....)
randofo (author) in reply to caitlinsdadApr 26, 2010. 1:52 PM
If they want to live amongst the roaches and cockerflies, they are more than welcome to. I prefer mine dried out and pinned down.
thepelton says: Apr 26, 2010. 4:21 PM
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
1-40 of 45Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!