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I'd like to ask for some assistance for choosing the best technique to prepare Nematocera genitalia. Maybe someone could suggest any book or article?
I have "COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS AND MITES:TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS" EDITED BY M. E. SCHAUFF, but maybe there are other good sources?

Appreciate your time!

Andrius

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Hi Andrius,

I do not know, if there is a best technique... I think it depends on the group you like to work on.... I am still working with Canada balsam to embed genitalia and the whole gnat... This might be not that healthy, because you need beside alcohol (70%-96%) xylene and creosote.... but it works fine and the dose makes the poison.... if you have the possibility to use an extraction hood or a room well ventilated.....
However, there are some other mounting media.... Hoyer's, PVA, PVL... may producing artefacts or destroying mounted specimens on slide..... Euparal... shrinkage and getting fast lacky....
Do you have already checked the special literature dealing with your nematoceran group?!? Probably, there are the hints you need....

You have the choice.... ;-)

so long,
xylo

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Well, I don't work with Nematocera, but personally I prefer to avoid making traditional slide preparetes. Most fly genitalia are well sclerotised and can be tried & glued on cardboard with little loss of detail. I keep very soft or very small genitalia in microvials filled with glycerol. If a high-magnification is needed I make a temporary mount using glycerol + microscope slides.

I find this to be sufficient, but I guess midge taxonomists will disagree ;)