Portable Tray for Anesthetizing and Sorting Insects

摘要

A light, transportable, practical tray using carbon dioxide for anesthetizing,identifying, and sorting live insects is described. Insects are placed on working surface and sorted into containers without causing injury. Most entomological studies involve handling insects at some point in a manner that does not injure the insect, inhibit its normal behavior, or influence it in other ways. When working with mosquitoes for repellent testing or with fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) for toxicologic testing (e.g., mutagenicity), it is essential that the insects be counted, identified, and transferred to separate containers as quickly as possible without causing any injury. Several methods have been used to anesthetize and sort insects, including thermoelectric cold plates, carbon dioxide, and chemical reagents such as ether or Fly Trap. Reprints. (sdw)