make a slide of an EARWIG
Moderators: MacroMike, nzmacro, Ken Ramos, twebster, S. Alden
- MikeBinOKlahoma
- Posts: 1491
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Umm....Could it be Oklahoma?
First, find an earwig!
If you're serious, the following links may help you.
This article is by our host (just one of 'em, actually), Uberphotographer Tom Webster:
http://www.oncloserinspection.com/Photo ... ro_kit.htm
This article is more generic:
http://www.photo.net/learn/macro/
If you're serious, the following links may help you.
This article is by our host (just one of 'em, actually), Uberphotographer Tom Webster:
http://www.oncloserinspection.com/Photo ... ro_kit.htm
This article is more generic:
http://www.photo.net/learn/macro/
Mike Broderick
_____________________________________________________________
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul.....My mandate includes weird bugs."--Calvin
(reposts on this site of my images for critique or instruction are welcome)
_____________________________________________________________
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul.....My mandate includes weird bugs."--Calvin
(reposts on this site of my images for critique or instruction are welcome)
The smaller the insect, the better. Otherwise the mount will be too thick which will make using your higher magnification more difficult. I usually start by placing the insect in a fixative solution such as AFA, or alcohol-formalin-acetic acid for a few days. This will soften the critter and clear out much of the softer innards and allow for a thinner mount. I use a 4:4:2 ratio of 90% ethanol, formalin, and glacial acetic acid. You can store your insects in this solution for several months. When ready to mount, transfer the specimen into straight 90% ethanol to remove any water. Soak for a couple hours and place specimen on slide. Put a drop of toulene on the specimen and examine for any bubbles. Use a fine pin or a hair to adjust position and swipe away any air bubbles. Then use a drop or two of "clear mount" or Canadian Balsum and place coverslip over specimen. The toulene is a solvent that allows the mounting medium to flow out nicely. Good luck. Mounting specimens is probably more of an art than a science.
George
George
- MikeBinOKlahoma
- Posts: 1491
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Umm....Could it be Oklahoma?
I have a macro rather than a micro orientation, clearly...When someone mentions "slide" I think of a 35mm transparency, not a glass thing you slide under a microscope!
Mike Broderick
_____________________________________________________________
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul.....My mandate includes weird bugs."--Calvin
(reposts on this site of my images for critique or instruction are welcome)
_____________________________________________________________
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul.....My mandate includes weird bugs."--Calvin
(reposts on this site of my images for critique or instruction are welcome)
Threw me for a loop to Mike but I did not want to say anything. However I knew where you were coming from. I do the same things from time to time. Only natural I suppose!
Site Admin.
Kenneth Ramos
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Kens Microscopy
Reposts of my images within the galleries are welcome, as are constructive critical critiques.
Kenneth Ramos
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Kens Microscopy
Reposts of my images within the galleries are welcome, as are constructive critical critiques.