Section II: WRBU Mosquito Larva Mounting Protocol
Maceration
The cuticle must be cleared so that all characters are visible when the specimen is mounted. Mosquito larvae can be cleared using a variety of chemicals and it is important to monitor temperature and timing of exposure. Because ... clear quickly and easily ... as the length of time in NaOH increases, care should be taken to avoid over-clearing. If ... is difficult to clear, use a probe to create a small hole, at an angle, where the ... and ... join. Because the ... may clear more slowly than the ..., it may be necessary to leave the ... in the NaOH for an extra 5 to 10 minutes until it is mostly clear and not .... Record clear times for ... and ... in lab notebook.
1. Using a fine dropper, remove all ETH from crucible and cover specimen with 10% NaOH solution. Place covered crucible in oven at 45°C for at least 30 minutes. If more time is needed, use additional intervals of 15 minutes at a time, checking to see that all relevant taxonomic characters are visible. (...)
Photo credit: J Stoffer
2. Remove NaOH solution and cover specimen with 5% acetic acid. Let sit for 20 minutes at room temperature.
Photo credit: J Stoffer
3. Remove 5% acetic acid from dish and cover specimen with 95% ETH and let sit for 10 minutes. Repeat this step two additional times to make sure all acetic acid has been washed from specimen.
Photo credit: J Stoffer
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