These files support the Great Green Gathering- this will be updated throughout the stream and afterwards.
Files that support the Live streamed Great Green Gathering 2020
Great Green Gathering Files repository
Reply
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Up close and personal with Culex pipiens
Recently I have been able to spend a little time Staffordshire University’s environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). I’d like to share some of the images that were captured.
Click any of the images for the full sized version!
These first 3 images show the complexity, and beauty, of the antennae of this male mosquito. I particularly like the way that new detail is revealed at each new magnification level. From an entirely non-scientific point of view, I find these hugely satisfying aesthetically
Male Culex pipiens antennae. Zoom level 1
Male Culex pipiens antennae. Zoom level 2
Male Culex pipiens antennae. Zoom level 3
The next 3 images focus on the maxillary palps of the same male Culex pipiens mosquito. Again, starting at low magnification and progressively increasing.
The end of a Male Culex pipiens’ maxillary palp. x100 magnification.
Male Culex pipiens maxillary palp x250 magnification
Male Culex pipiens maxillary palp x500 magnification. (specimen is getting quite charged now- hence the “glowing” hairs)
And last but not least, a 3 image series of the end of the proboscis of the same Culex pipiens male.
Male Culex pipiens proboscis x130 magnfication
Male Culex pipiens proboscis x250 magnfication
Male Culex pipiens proboscis x500 magnfication
Experienced microscopists please excuse the specimen charging throughout, and the missing scale data on the first 3 images.
CAD drawings soon, and parts on order. Video update.
Meet Ochlerotatus punctor, the puddle dweller!
Today’s blog post is not directly linked to the olfactometer design and build process but instead introduces a little detail around one of the UK’s native mosquitoes.
Both of these are Ochlerotatus punctor and were collected as larvae from the same temporary puddle in the middle of a path through a forest. They were then reared on to adult emergence in the university insectary. It is worth noting that the puddle only lasted about 10 days, yet it yielded many larvae; I do not know however whether the development cycle completed before the puddle dried up. I do know that I did not collect any 4th instars (the final larval stage of mosquitoes) or pupae from the puddle before it dried up.
The images below are included to help highlight some of the physical differences between male and female mosquitoes. The lighting is not great as the photos are taken through the eyepiece of the dissecting microscope in the insectary. These are quite small mosquitoes, about 2/3 the size of the Culiseta species which forms the title image of this blog site.
Ochlerotatus punctor are widely distributed in Britain dependent upon the availability of temporary woodland pools. They females feed on a range of mammals and will readily bite humans, particularly at dusk near aquatic sites (Snow, 1990).
Female Ochlerotatus punctor head with annotations showing pilose antennae and short maxillary palps.
Male Ochlerotatus punctor head with annotations showing plumose antennae and elongate maxillary palps.
References:
Snow, K.R. (1990). Mosquitoes. Slough: The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd.