Marking Methods for Inverts

[Doug Yanega]

>I am interested in finding the source of these tiny plastic lables, and
>the technique for attaching them.
>
>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.

When you asked this question before, several people posted the information
on where to obtain the "Opalithplattchen" for bees, which *are* the tags
you are referring to. They are about 3-4 mm long, convex, and come with
glue to apply them. The information, again, is
Christian Graze KG
Postfach 2707
7056 Weinstadt-Endersbach
FRG
and request "Opalith-Zeichenplattchen mit Kleben".

If this isn't suitable, then you will have to either make the tags yourself
(this can be done by taking plastic labels from food and other products
that have numbers in tiny print on them and just cutting them out), or
else, yes, use nail polish or enamel paint. I spent six years marking
hundreds of sweat bees individually with 4 colors of enamel paint; it is
not impossible.

Good luck,

Doug Yanega Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG BRAZIL
phone: 031-448-1223, fax: 031-44-5481 (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
"There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82

[br...@iastate.edu]

Thanks to everyone that sent me off line and on-line posts on marking methods.
I think bee tags will work perfectly so I'm aquiring a sample, but some of the
other suggestions are interesting possibilities to follow up on should the bee
tags not work out.

Thanks also for the suggestions on glues, epoxies and scuba gear glue. One or
more of these will work I have no doubt.

That leaves us with designing a sampling method. Not an easy task for these
critters, especially given their habitat requirements (algific slopes).

thanks again
Brent

In article <1997042304...@atlanta.american.edu><ECOL...@UMDD.UMD.,
br...@IASTATE.EDU writes:

>From: br...@IASTATE.EDU
>Organization: Iowa State University
>Subject: Marking Methods for Inverts
>Lines: 27
>Xref: news.iastate.edu sci.bio.ecology:28169
>
>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

[br...@iastate.edu]

[Banta WC]

Ihave had some experience of this kind marking snails in a marine marsh.
We used minute paper labels written with a 00-Rapidograph pen with India
ink. We glued them to dried snails with a drop of epoxy resin with a
decent work time of about 10 minutes. We were able to retrieve the labels
for some years after marking, although many labels were lost to unknown
causes. We were able to mark snails down to about 4 mm.

WC Banta
wcb...@american.edu
WC Banta -
Ban...@aol.com
wcb...@american.edu