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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #295170
Title: Preparing soft-bodied arthropods for microscope examination: Aphids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae)

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 soft-bodied arthropods for microscope examination: Aphids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae). World Wide Web. SEL's Slide-mounting Tutorial Videos

Interpretive Summary: Aphids 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. In addition to direct feeding damage, aphids are one of the most important insects in the role of transmission of plant diseases. Identification of these insect pests are paramount in both quarantine or biological programs. This training video provides visual instruction on how to prepare aphid 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 aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) require preparation of the specimen on a microscope slide. This training video provides visual instruction on how to prepare aphid specimens on microscope slides for examination and indentification. Steps ranging from collection, specimen clearing, use of mounting medium, coverslip placement, and final drying are shown along with narration. 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.