We know how to clearing specimens in many ways, like alkaline solutions, but sometimes the specimens may become transparent.
Do you know a good technique to turn this specimens visible again?
Hi I have had the same situation many years ago while mounting cleared specimens of ensign wasps larvae in resin on slides. I was clearing them in phenol and often would leave them too long. We used Ponceau red to add some (pinkish red) colour back, if I am not mistaken. The dye had some affinity to chitin, thus stained mouthparts over other parts. It was quite easy.
However mind you can also employ different methods to clear your specimens, such as hot 10% NaOH or KOH. The latter is the least aggressive but may prove too slow. Phenol was too toxic.
Dear colleague,
You can use alcaline solutions like hot KOH or NaOH (10 % at 95-100°C for above 1 min for larvae and 5-15 min for adults). For more detail see the following references:
GAGNÉ, R.J. 1994. The gall midges of neotropical region. Cornell University, Ithaca and London: 352 pp.
MARTOJA, R. & MARTOJA, P.M. 1967. Initiation aux Techniques de l’Histologie Animale. Masson et Cie, Paris,France.
Good luck N. Soltani
I have a small inquiry about these insectes, whene we use them into KOH solution can we make a PCR or a molecular study on them or all the moleculs have gone ????
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