1. Place the sample in a watch glass, add a few drops of distilled water then an equal number of drops of 5% NaOH solution. Pale specimens may require only one hour, others can be left overnight, black specimens may be left for 2 or more days.

2. Transfer the specimens from NaOH solution to distilled water for a few hours, then into 60% ethanol.

3.Store the specimens in 60% ethanol for 24 hours.

4. Replace the 60% ethanol with 70% ethanol and leave for about 1 hour.

5. Replace with 80% ethanol and leave for 20 minutes.

6. Replace with 95% ethanol and leave for 10 minutes.

7. Replace with absolute ethanol and leave for 5 minutes.

8. Replace with fresh absolute ethanol and leave for another 5 minutes.

9. Transfer to clove oil and leave for about half an hour, or until fully cleared, before mounting.

Hi, have a look here: http://www.microbehunter.com/2010/01/23/an-overview-of-mounting-media-for-microscopy/

Cheers, Nadine

I usually use Euparal, you may put insect directly from 90% ethyle alcohol, if insects are small. If they are larger and very dark, you may need first put them for some time to the KOH solution (then to alcohol because you can't put specimen to the euparal directly from the water solution)

From some time I test DMHF, mounting is not so easy like in Euparal case (medium is more dense) but you may put specimen directly from water, you don't need to disolve soft tissues in KOH because medium do it by itself.

To my opinion insects munted in euparal are better visable then in DMHF under microscope, but I don't have so much experience witrh DMHF.

Both medium are for permanent slides.

1. Place the sample in a watch glass, add a few drops of distilled water then an equal number of drops of 5% NaOH solution. Pale specimens may require only one hour, others can be left overnight, black specimens may be left for 2 or more days.

2. Transfer the specimens from NaOH solution to distilled water for a few hours, then into 60% ethanol.

3.Store the specimens in 60% ethanol for 24 hours.

4. Replace the 60% ethanol with 70% ethanol and leave for about 1 hour.

5. Replace with 80% ethanol and leave for 20 minutes.

6. Replace with 95% ethanol and leave for 10 minutes.

7. Replace with absolute ethanol and leave for 5 minutes.

8. Replace with fresh absolute ethanol and leave for another 5 minutes.

9. Transfer to clove oil and leave for about half an hour, or until fully cleared, before mounting.