Butterfly genitalia preparation

[jonathan]

Hi people,
As part of my studies, I would like to start analyzing butterfly genitalia. Can anyone be so kind to provide me the steps that are required in order to prepare microscopic slides with genitalia please? What is the best way to dissect a butterfly abdomen? What special tools & chemicals are needed for this process? Is there more than 1 method of doing this?

It seems that this topic is rarely (if ever) raised on lepidoptera fora.
I tried to google this out but there is very limited information available.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jonathan

[Chris Grinter]

Pick yourself up a copy of this book: www.lepsoc.org/techniques_manual.php

You can also find a video tutorial here: mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu/Researchtaxapages/CactusMoths/Methodology.html

[jonathan]

Thanks Chris,
Very interesting indeed!

[jshuey]

I'm in the middle of a bunch of dissections myself, and I thought that I would show you the results of "photo stacking" to increase the focus and depth of field on genitalia preparations.

I'm using the Zerene photo stacking program (free download for one month) and built a bunch of photos using between 4 and 10 photos at different focus levels for each of the views (I just have my camera shoot a burst of photos as I focus downward).

The program is designed to grab the parts of each photo that are in focus to build an entire view that is sharp. It definitely improves the detail on the subject - but it also adds a weird look to the smooth background (it tries to focus that as well making the patterns).

What do you think? Should I buy the program?

Shuey

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