Preparation and Mounting of Biting Midges of the Genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to be Observed with a Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract

Techniques tending to the preservation of the original morphology and with the mounting of species of Culicoides for SEM, especially larvae and adults, are discussed. Dried adults dry mounted directly on silver paste allowed the perfect observation of the wings. Adults preserved in alcohol, dehydrated in phenol saturated in absolute alcohol, washed in alcohol 70%, and mounted on carbon tape, permitted a thorough observation of the rest of the structures. With regard to larvae, Nembutal was the most efficient of the relaxing drugs used. Phenol saturated in absolute alcohol acts as fixative and dehydrator, being one of the few fixatives which is apt for the observation not only with light microscope but also with SEM.