MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Hi Paul,
Wellcome.
Peter.

Hi janvangastel,
Did you clean the slides/coverslips before using them? I would never trust new slides/coverslips to be clean when purchased, even those which claim to be clean.
Peter.

Hi 92111,
I would say it is a vorticella which has shed it's looking for pastures new, or is about to encyst.
Peter.

75RR wrote:
Does that mean that Zeiss made their own screws?

I have no idea but I would say probably.
Peter.

Hi 75RR, Many years ago I was told, by a Zeiss agent who had visited the Zeiss factory, that the Zeiss workers make their own screwdrivers using sword steel for the blades. That being the case I doubt you will find a commercial equivalent. Best find some tough steel and start making your own. Hope t...

Jonnyvine wrote:photomicro gave a nice idea about using wallpaper paste. Will that stuff wash off the slides?

Yes it will wash off the slides.

Hi Jim,
What would be the point?
Peter.

Hi Lilly,
It may be a wing from a thrip or similar insect.
Peter.

Ho Lilly,
This looks like a mite to me, i can count seven legs in yourm photo ( mites have eight legs).
What do you mean by "bug"?; to an entomologist a bug is an insect with piercing sucking mouthparts, there many insects (and other invertebrates which are not bugs).
Peter.

Hi Lilly,
These are colonial diatoms.
Peter.

I'm assuming I'll have to clean the lens afterwards.

Oh yes.

will it help?

Oh yes.

I always clean them.

Hi LBochtler, I don't know the Shandon Autosharp 5 microtome knife sharpener at all, how ever my understanding is that some/many/most microtome knife sharpeners use glass "plates" for the hone to which has to be added some liquid bearing abrasive. If your hones/lapps are self abrasive then they will...

Hi Crusty, They may be insect eggs. The yellow spheres may be fat globules, and the purple structures look to me like embryonic eyes, also the sides show segmentation. If you could give an indication of size that may help. Keep them in a sample bottle and keep watching them, if they are eggs they sh...

Hi Crusty,
Its a mite.
Peter.

Hi Even,
My 40x objective is oil however it is NA 1. Your 40/ 0.65 will not be an immersion objective.
Peter.

Hi Cyclops,
The water in the dish under a potted plant is usually a good source of soil microorganisms.
Peter.

Hi Rabitt,
Your organism looks more like a suctoria to me; but what do I know.
Peter.

exmarine wrote:Hi Peter,

Do you realize what you are implying?

Multi level pun intended.

It seems obvious to me why there's a decrease in bee numbers; all the drones are mating with drones not queens. (My first ever use of a "smilie", I now feel dirty).

Hi Rudi,
What you have there is a mite.
Peter.

HiRudi,
You could try http://www.advtechind.com/ for stains. I have used them once.
Hope this helps.
Peter.

Hi Octane80 (Naked microscopist),
Have you cleaned your slides/coverslips? "Factory clean" slides/coverslips can come from the box contaminated, this looks like a contaminating fiber to me; I would always clean slides/coverslips before use.
Hope this helps.
Peter.

Hi John, Would this http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Leitz-Leica-Microscope-Leitz-K4-auxiliary-lens-for-Orthoplan-Condenser-/122322458417?hash=item1c7afc9731:g:9hsAAOSwo4pYHcbZ , or this http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Leitz-Leica-Microscope-Leitz-K1-auxiliary-lens-for-400-600-series-Condenser-/122317715120?hash=item1...

Hi Txiki,
Professional lab workers are supposed to treat all bacterial cultures as if they contained pathogens, however how you work with your own cultures is up to you.
Peter.

Pat Thielen wrote:These are amazing photos! If only I had an SEM (maybe I'll buy a used one on Ebay!).

Hi Pat,
Before you rush out and buy a SEM check out the price of a gold sputter coater!
Peter.

Hi HKV,
Looks to me like a fruit fly, many species world wide.
Peter.

I'm very sad... I've confirmed I need a 100x objective to view bacteries... I've made my first Gram stain, but I can't identify bacteries... Thanks! Hi Txiki, Sorry but I am slightly confused by "identify", do you mean you can see bacteria but cannot categerise them or that you cannot see any bacte...

Hi MicroInspector,
You could point out that a healthy person has ten microbe cells in their body to every one human cell, however it is impossible to reason with people who have an unreasonable fear.
Peter.