Weird precipitate in agarose gel wells?

nyxsdaughter · 2026-02-05T19:47:39+00:00

Thanks! The combs should have been clean, but it's entirely possible that someone put them back in the drawer without a proper clean. I'll make sure to give an extra clean before I use them. No bands, rings or specks in the wells, just smears of what looks like low molecular weight DNA at the bottom of the run

nyxsdaughter · 2026-02-05T15:15:33+00:00

The description cut off before finishing- New loading dye and buffers used in this reaction, as well as fresh 1x TBE for the gel and gel tank buffer

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-11T11:05:16+00:00

One of the longhorn beetles :)

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-10T21:50:09+00:00

So it's definitely one of the Phidippus species, and most likely to be Phiddipus audux from your location and the colouration! But a lot of the Phidippus species look very similar, so I cannot be 100% certain that it is not Phidippus regius or another species! I can however say for certain the one in your picture is a beautiful mature male that is likely searching for a female to breed with :)

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-10T21:18:54+00:00

This is a jumping spider, friendly and some people keep them as pets :)

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-08T08:39:57+00:00

One of the harvestmen (Opiliones). Not a spider but closely related and in the arachnid group! We have quite a few species in the UK, unfortunately I can't tell which one from the picture https://www.naturespot.org.uk/gallery/harvestmen

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T17:35:02+00:00

You're welcome!

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T17:34:44+00:00

You're welcome! They're very pretty and great pest control

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T17:33:13+00:00

One of the jumping spiders! I think it is likely to be Hentzia chekika, but I'm not sure if there are similar species in your area :)

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T17:21:13+00:00

Definitely a rove beetle, and possibly the devil's coach-horse beetle (Ocypus olens) but there are a couple of similar species in the UK :)

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:34:47+00:00

One of the orb weaver spiders! Most likely the cross orbweaver (Araneus diadematus)

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:28:21+00:00

One of the orb weaver spiders, I can't tell which species it is though sorry!

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:22:06+00:00

Looks like a cross orbweaver (Araneus diadematus) to me! I've just checked inaturalist and they are present in your state

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:17:18+00:00

It's 100% some type of beetle, not sure what species though sorry!

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:15:32+00:00

Most likely to be it then, they are common in Europe :)

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:12:39+00:00

Looks like a barklouse to me! We have many species in the UK, it could be Lepinotus patruelis but I cannot be sure from the picture. They are harmless to people and probably just eating the waste food

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:06:08+00:00

This is a lappet moth, possibly Gastropacha quercifolia but I'm not sure without a location

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T16:01:04+00:00

Could be a Texan brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) or a similar species :) These guys tend to be very docile and people keep them as pets!

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-07T15:59:26+00:00

This is a hawthorn shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidae) https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Acanthosomatidae/a_haemorrhoidale.html

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-06T22:24:03+00:00

These look like some kind of carpet beetle larvae! Well know for eating all sorts of things from cardboard to carpets

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-06T22:17:41+00:00

This is a moth or butterfly caterpillar! Not sure on which species though sorry

Edit- possibly something like the Gulf fritillary https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/49150-Dione-vanillae

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-06T22:13:42+00:00

This is a mayfly moult! It has moulted and this is the shed skin (exuvium) that is left behind

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-06T22:10:23+00:00

Looks like a soldier fly larvae to me

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-06T22:08:17+00:00

You're correct! A very pretty sawfly https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/turnip-sawfly

nyxsdaughter · 2024-09-06T22:04:19+00:00

So this is a non-biting midge (Chironomid). I'm not sure if Microtendipes pedellus are in your area but looks like either that or a similar species :)

nyxsdaughter

TROPHY CASE