Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #295168
Title: Preparing sternorrhynchous insects (Insecta: Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) for microscope examination: Hoyer’s mounting medium

Author
item Miller, Gary
item BAUCHAN, G. - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item MITTER, C. - University Of Maryland
item TRACY, A. - Mercer County

Submitted to: World Wide Web
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2014
Publication Date: 1/15/2014
Citation: Miller, G.L., Bauchan, G.R., Mitter, C.E., Tracy, A. 2014. Preparing sternorrhynchous insects (Insecta: Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) for microscope examination: Hoyer’s mounting medium. World Wide Web. SEL's Slide-mounting Tutorial Videos

Interpretive Summary: Aphids, scale insects, psyllids, and whitefles are pests that feed on many of the world’s agriculturally important crops, trees, and ornamental plants and cause millions of dollars of damage annually. They are also very important invasive species. Identification of these insect pests are paramount in both quarantine or biological programs and usually required the preparation of a microscope slide mount for examination. Hoyer’s mounting medium allows the worker to make a temporary microscope slide mount. This video narrates and illustrates the technique used for the Hoyer’s mounting medium. This will be of special interest to quarantine personnel at both the federal and state levels, academic teaching institutions, and insect taxonomists.

Technical Abstract: Proper identification of aphids, scale insects, psyllids, and whitefles (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) require preparation of the specimen on a microscope slide. This training video provides visual instruction on how to prepare sternorrhynchous specimens on microscope slides for examination and identification using the temporary Hoyer’s mounting medium. This video narrates and illustrates the technique of slide-making with Hoyer’s when quick, non-permanent mounts are required. This distance learning video is in support of the Enhanced Pest Identification and Technology effort (Farm Bill—H.R. 6124) and will be of special interest to quarantine personnel at both the federal and state levels, academic teaching institutions, and insect taxonomists.