pollen mites- pickling solution?
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2024 9:54 pm
Hello-
I have cleaned up my mason bee cocoons and I have a volume of pollen mites isolated- probably about 35cc worth if you were to put them in a 50ml tube.
I have looked around a little but I'm not sure what I should pickle them in (ratios) to keep them from shrinking or popping.
I have 95% ethanol, probably some reagent grade glycerol that I have lost track of, and distilled water around.
These will likely be 'hairy fingered' mite- Chaetodactylidae / Chaetodactylus. Not varroas or larger/ tougher animasl.
Any thoughts on the best solution to pickle them in? I have billions and woudl be happy to send samples to anyone who wants to give a try at imaging them. I thought I might be able to find a pdf of
Krantz, G.W. et al (various years) A manual of acarology.
someplace but no luck yet, that might have some mite-specific protocols.
Brian.
I have cleaned up my mason bee cocoons and I have a volume of pollen mites isolated- probably about 35cc worth if you were to put them in a 50ml tube.
I have looked around a little but I'm not sure what I should pickle them in (ratios) to keep them from shrinking or popping.
I have 95% ethanol, probably some reagent grade glycerol that I have lost track of, and distilled water around.
These will likely be 'hairy fingered' mite- Chaetodactylidae / Chaetodactylus. Not varroas or larger/ tougher animasl.
Any thoughts on the best solution to pickle them in? I have billions and woudl be happy to send samples to anyone who wants to give a try at imaging them. I thought I might be able to find a pdf of
Krantz, G.W. et al (various years) A manual of acarology.
someplace but no luck yet, that might have some mite-specific protocols.
Brian.