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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #295166
Title: Preparing soft-bodied arthropods for arthropods for microscope examination: Mites (Arachnida: Acari)

Author
item Miller, Gary
item BAUCHAN, G. - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
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., Ochoa, R., Mitter, C.E., Tracy, A. 2014. Preparing soft-bodied arthropods for arthropods for microscope examination: Mites (Arachnida: Acari). World Wide Web.

Interpretive Summary: Mites 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. Identification of these mite pests are paramount in both quarantine or biological programs. This training video provides visual instruction on how to prepare mite specimens on microscope slides for examination and identification. This video 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 mites (Arachnida: Acari) require preparation of the specimen on a microscope slide. This training video provides visual instruction on how to prepare mite specimens on microscope slides for examination and identification. Steps ranging from collection, specimen clearing, use of mounting medium, coverslip placement, and final drying. 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.