I am working on field studies to use EPF for sand fly population control. I need to stain sand flies contaminated with EPF and see how far they can spread the EPF in the field.
One of the classic methods would be to use a fluorescent power that you can visualize with a UV light. I'm not sure how well this will work with sand flies infected with fungi if they start to explode with conidia. You could also use a dye that stains them internally that you could detect for a few days. This has been done with some other insects. If you have a near infrared scanner you could use it to detect infected individuals. This technology can be used to age grade insects because it measures changes the changes in the cuticle. I strongly suspect it will work for detecting fungi.
I published one such experiment with small biting flies
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/43079095_Age-grading_the_biting_midge_Culicoides_sonorensis_using_near-infrared_spectroscopy?ev=prf_pub
Article Age-grading the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis using nea...
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