Packing and Shipping

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Objective هدف Given specimens collected from the field, demonstrate proper sorting, counting, and preparation for shipment.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Overview مرور Processing Collections Packing and Shipping

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Why Does it Matter Proper packing and shipping of arthropod specimens ensures fast accurate identifications.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Why does it matter Improper packing and shipping leads to problems What can go wrong?? Damaged specimens due to overcrowding Stale specimens -- older ones become brittle Sending male mosquitoes or “trash” bugs Incorrect labels Bad packing and shipping produces bad results and wasted time

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death How to process collections Collect specimens from traps as early as possible Kill specimens by placing in the freezer for several hours

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Processing collection Sort the specimens: 1. Separate the mosquitoes from the “trash bugs” -mosquitoes have one pair of wings -mosquitoes have a proboscis -the proboscis has scales -mosquito wing veins have scales

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Processing collection Some common insects mistaken for mosquitoes: Midges Crane flies Parasitic wasps

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Packing and Shippi ng Sort the specimens: 1. Separate the mosquitoes from the “trash bugs” 2. Separate the male mosquitoes from the female mosquitoes Males have bushy antennae or “mustaches” Males have long palps Culicine females have short palps Watch out for female Anophelines They have long palps

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Male or Female?

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Male or Female?

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Mosquito Surveillance Program 1. Separate the mosquitoes from the “trash bugs” 2. Separate the male mosquitoes from the female mosquitoes 2. Separate the male mosquitoes from the female mosquitoes 3. Pack the specimens: 3. Pack the specimens: Pack the female mosquitoes into petri dish containers Only place female mosquitoes in each container Do not ship males, wet specimens, other species

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Packing and Shipping Items needed to properly pack adult female mosquito specimens Tissues Petri dishes TapeLabels

Packing and Shipping Place tissue on bottom half of petri dish

Packing and Shipping Put female mosquitoes on tissue paper without allowing them to touch

Packing and Shipping Place another tissue on the mosquitoes

Packing and Shipping Squeeze petri dish lid on the bottom Cut excess tissue paper Tape petri dish closed and add label

Packing and Shipping Items needed to properly pack larval mosquito specimens AlcoholVialsTapeLabels

Packing and Shipping Heat water to kill mosquito larva in Hot but not boiling Place larvae in hot water Remove larvae after a few seconds Place larvae in 70-80% alcohol Tape lid securely and add label

Packing and Shipping Labeling Name of location/installation Collection site Method of collection Collection date Collector’s name

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Summary Processing Collections Packing and Shipping

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Questions?سوالات