Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi I am conducting a project in which I need to cover the compound eyes of the stick insects I am working with. I was wondering if anybody had any idea of how to go about covering those eyes without injuring the insect and in an easily done manner. Thank you!

Hi manuvaish,

I asked a couple of entomologists and they did not have any good strategies for covering compound eyes. One concern if you find a way to do this is that the behavior observed with the blindfold might be due to the blindfold rather than the absence of light (assuming that is what you are testing).

Is it possible to remove the light from the experiment and still collect data?

Cheers,
Emily

So I just found this paper and I though of you. It might not be relevant but people do blindfold insects and publish the results in scientific journals =).