Marking Methods for Inverts

[br...@iastate.edu]

I have seen once, a methodology for marking invertebrates that consists of
gluing tiny pieces of plastic with unique numbers to the carapaces of aquatic
insects.

I am interested in finding the source of these tiny plastic lables, and
the technique for attaching them. As I much prefer ennumerating small mammals
with numbered metal earrings, this technique is pretty far afield for me, but
something I recall from an seminar years ago.

What we intend to do is mark very small terrestrial snails in the range of
5-10mm. I can imagine that these sorts of lables might be glued to them rather
easily with superglue, but perhaps there is something better for a glue and I
have no idea where I could find such lables.

Alternative suggestions would certainly be appreciated. To date, the only
method that has been used is a system of dots of finger nail polish coded
spatially and by color. This leaves a LOT to be desired in my opinion. Thus,
my interest in numbered tags of some sort.

If anyone has a suggestion and/or source for such tags, I would very much
appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks,
Brent Danielson
br...@iastate.edu

Dept. Animal Ecology
Iowa State University

[Lawrence Taylor]

>I have seen once, a methodology for marking invertebrates that >consists of gluing tiny pieces of plastic with unique numbers to the >carapaces of aquatic insects...

Hi

We used bee tags on small research scallops. I'm not sure if this
reference still works:

Christian Graze KG
Postfach 2707
7056 Weinstadt-Endersbach
FRG ((ask for Opalith-Zeichenplattchen mit Kleben (bee tags with glue)
@20.50 DM))

Its been some time since we used these and if this reference doesn't
work, look for bee tags else where. We used super glue to put on two
tags per scallop.

Cheers Lawrence
biod...@auracom.com

[Jonathan Dale]

In article <5j3m0a$256$1...@news.iastate.edu>, <br...@iastate.edu> wrote:
>
>I have seen once, a methodology for marking invertebrates that consists of
>gluing tiny pieces of plastic with unique numbers to the carapaces of aquatic
>insects.

Those little tags are bee tags. Superglue works fine. (You can also
get superglue accelerator to make it dry *really* fast). I haven't
used this address (and the reference is 7 years old... anyone with a
more recent address is encouraged to chip in here), but try:

Christian Graze KG
Postfach 2707
7056 Weinstadt-Endersbach
FRG

and ask for "Opalith-Zeichenplattchen mit Kleben" (bee tags with glue).

My source ("The Underwater Catalog: A guide to methods in underwater research"
published through the New York Sea Grant, highly recommended, just call
them up and ask if it's still available) also suggests wire markers, as used
for telephone cables (try an electrical supply store). They suggest coating
them with superglue, fiberglass resin, or clear cement for protection.
--
Jonathan Dale (jd...@bio.bu.edu)
"It had been good talking to his father's spirt. When he had walked the Earth,
he had been a strange and distant man. He had not changed much since he died."
---_High Steel_, Jack C. Haldeman and Jack Dann

[Lawrence Taylor]

>I have seen once, a methodology for marking invertebrates that
>consists of gluing tiny pieces of plastic with unique numbers to the

>carapaces of aquatic insects...

Hi

We used bee tags on small research scallops. I'm not sure if this
reference still works:

Christian Graze KG
Postfach 2707
7056 Weinstadt-Endersbach

[Jerry Freilich - The Nature Conservancy]

Jonathan,
I don't know which reference on aquatic tagging you were mentioning, but I
suggest you look at my paper:

Freilich, J.E. 1989. A method for tagging individual benthic insects.
Journal of the North American Benthological Society 8 (4): 351-354.

I found that bee tags were not particularly useful on aquatic insects
because their shape was wrong. Besides, they are expensive and you don't
need them.

Best of luck with this,

______________________________
Jerry Freilich, Ph.D.
Director of Conservation Science
The Nature Conservancy
258 Main St., Suite 200
Lander, WY 82520
mailto:jfre...@rmisp.com
Phone: 307-332-2971
FAX: 307-332-2974

[Jonathan Dale]

In article <5j3m0a$256$1...@news.iastate.edu>, <br...@iastate.edu> wrote:
>

>I have seen once, a methodology for marking invertebrates that consists of
>gluing tiny pieces of plastic with unique numbers to the carapaces of aquatic

>insects.

Those little tags are bee tags. Superglue works fine. (You can also
get superglue accelerator to make it dry *really* fast). I haven't
used this address (and the reference is 7 years old... anyone with a
more recent address is encouraged to chip in here), but try:

Christian Graze KG
Postfach 2707
7056 Weinstadt-Endersbach
FRG