Sucking insects (Order Hemiptera) Cockroach (Order Blattodea) Termites (Order Isoptera) Lice (Order Phthiraptera) Grasshoppers and Crikets (Order Orthoptera) Silverfish (Order Thysanura) Farwings (Order Dermaptera) Psocids (Order Psocoptera) Thrips (Order Thysanoptera) - Usually small and fast moving - Wings with feathery marginal fringe

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Thrips - Usually small and fast moving - Wings with feathery marginal fringe

Order Thysanoptera(Incomplete Metamorphosis)

Thrips

Thrips

Bean blossom thrips

Thrips damage

Corky scab thrips damage

Onion thrips

COLLECTION AND TEMPORARY STORAGE

☻ Specimens should be collected directly into a mixture of

60% ethyl alcohol (10 pts), glycerine (1pt) and glacial

acetic acid ( 1 pt).

☻ In this fluid they remain relaxed and often an adventage

when tergal and sternal characters need examining.

☻ Thrips can be kept in this fluid for several months but

60% alcohol is preferable for longer periods of storage

☻ A drop of glycerine added to the alcohol will prevent

damage to the insects should the alcohol evaporate

MOUNTING☻ Specimens should be removed from the collecting or

storage fluid and placed in 60 % alcohol for at least 24

hours, then dehydrated through a series of alcohol as

rapidly as effective, but with no great changes in

concentration;

☻ The time spent in each concentration depends largely

on the size of specimens and the thickness of their

cuticle. Recommended: 1 h in 70% alcohol, 20 min in

80%, 10 min in 95% and 5 min in absolute, followed by

another 5 min in absolute. ☻ Cleared in clove oil for ½ to 10 min, 0r, carboxylol (1 pt and 3 pts xylol) for ½ to 1 min.

☻ Mounted singly, ventral side uppermost, on a cover slip

in a drop of balsam

LABELLING

☻ Two label on a good-quality paper and written in

permanent Indian ink, should be stuck on each slide

☻ The label should include information on: the locality, the

date of collection, the name of collector, description of

habitat and plant, reference number to further notes and the

name of the mountant.

☻ On the other label should written: The scientific name,

including the authority; the name of the person

responsible for determination; and further taxonomic and

structural details where necessary

DRYING AND STORING

☻ Dry slides in a horizontal position for about a week in a

slide oven;

☻ Store slides in a horizontal position in the dark, preferably

in wooden slide boxes;

☻ For a quick laboratory check on field infestation, specimens

can be displayed adequately by putting them on to a slide

in a drop of Hoyers of Barlese fluid, covering them with a

cover slip and warming briefly until the are partially cleared