A NEW FIXATION METHOD FOR PREPARING MITE SPECIMENS FOR OPTICAL AND SEM MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS

A new fixation method for preparing mite specimens was developed. The dilutions of 99.5% methanol and 99.3% acetic acid (hereafter called as MA fluids) were useful for the fixation of cuticular epidermis and stretching the legs of tetranychid and phytoseiid mites. Comparisons between the MA fluids and the fixatives heretofore in use revealed that the 70% ethanol fluid, which had been usually adopted for mite fixative, was not good for making mite exo-skeletonic specimens. After fixation with the MA fluids, mites were maintained in good condition in 70% ethanol. There was no bad effect of the MA fixative on the length of leg I of mites mounted in HOYER'S medium one week after the fixation. These fixatives were also useful as for the preliminary preparation of the mites for scanning electron microscopy.