HOME --- Introduction
---Traps
--- Identification
--- Key ---
References
HOME --- Introduction
---Traps
--- Identification
--- Key ---
References
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70% ethanol is normally used by taxonomists for preservation of their specimens. However, this makes any future DNA analysis difficult due to the effect of the ethanol on the DNA. High salt EDTA (5 M NaCl, 0.5 M EDTA) preserves specimens well for DNA analysis, but it may have an effect on the characters needed for identification.
Some of the specimens from the traps were therefore transferred from high salt EDTA to 70% ethanol, and some specimens stored in 70% ethanol were then transferred to high salt EDTA. A comparison of the effects of 90% ethanol was also made. The midges were stored in 70% ethanol for 9 weeks before transfer to the experiment; the high salt EDTA midges had 5 weeks' previous storage. All experimental storage was for 4 weeks.
Key to species found (next page)
| Original storage | New storage | Flexibility | Wing markings | Dehydration of body |
| High salt EDTA | 70% ethanol | Some | Clear, dark | None |
| High salt EDTA | 90% ethanol | Very brittle | Almost obscured by salt | Some |
| High salt EDTA | High salt EDTA | Over flexible; almost fragile | Clear, dark | Some specimens very swollen |
| 70% ethanol | 70% ethanol | Some | Clear, useable | Some dehydrated: cuticle damage |
| 70% ethanol | 90% ethanol | Quite brittle | Faded but useable | None |
| 70% ethanol | High salt EDTA | Inflexible, not brittle | Faded but useable | Minor |
High salt EDTA storage Top of page
90% ethanol storage Top of page
70% ethanol storage --- Top of page
