If so, you can send me the bug (or a leg) and $10 per specimen (to cover expenses) and I’ll barcode it for you. Just send me a private message if you’re interested.

Since posting this, I’ve been inundated with requests, so I’m afraid that I’m going to have to withdraw the offer for now. Sorry!

That’s a good question and it depends on a variety of factors. The two things that cause DNA to degrade the most are heat and water (since both are needed by the enzymes that break down DNA). If either or both of those things are eliminated, the DNA can last a long time. You can use ethanol or antif…

Good questions. Yes, I could probably isolate the animal DNA from the plant matter. Regarding the size, how tiny are the gall bugs? If they’re at least a couple millimeters that’s big enough.

The Polystepha midges are around around 1-2 mm. These spring Polystepha galls https://www.gallformers.org/gall/4183 and fall Polystepha galls https://www.gallformers.org/gall/3298 are pretty easy to dissect. I know how to tell the midge larvae apart from parasitoid larvae so I can avoid mixing paras…

I am interested in this service, so long as I get to pick one ;) Something Lucilia most likely.

[image] zygy: you can send me the bug (or a leg) and $10 per specimen (to cover expenses) and If they dont want it back, there must surely be a research collection somewhere that might want them.

I’m pretty sure they have to destroy it to get the DNA sample. So there is no getting it back.

Is this in association with a lab, I have always wanted to create a home genetics lab, for barcoding the many isopod specimens that I have; however, I could never find the right primers or get the process down to $10 per barcode. This is an amazing thing that you are offering and I would love to kno…

It’s a home lab. I’ll tell you more about it in a DM.

Well… Not the whole specimen. Just a leg or whatnot. I’ll DM you shortly, I have a fly leg I’d like done. :)

Anyone have some bugs they want to DNA barcode?

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Anyone have some bugs they want to DNA barcode?

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