Re: Where & how to send mite specimens

[Guest guest]

Joan- I contacted an acquaintence whom is a pesticide guy, he stated that all states have a designated Department of Agriculture in which houses the dept. of entomolgy in which accepts samples from the community for identification. Upon identification, these dept.s are required to provide the sample provider with a treatment plan. He also stated that now is a good time of year if you seek identification, because we are not heavily in the throes of summer heat and the breeding season of problem parasites so we would be more apt to have our samples looked at in a timely manner. He said it would be a large university or state university with in your area. In my case, it was a state university.jww1931 <joanwood@...> wrote: This morning I was able to lift some mites from bed sheets with scotchtape. I got at least 8 mites on a 3-4" piece of scotch tape. Doesanyone know who to and how I should send these specimens?I live in the Houston, Texas area and I think I got some good samples,unfortunately, I do not have a microscope to be able to photograph them.I don't know how long they will last just on the tape but I could tryputting some in a bottle with alcohol and see if they come off the tape.Any help appreciated.Joan

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[Guest guest]

Joan,

The first time I had the samples in scotch tape and placed them in an

empty CD case and sent it flat rate priority mail.

If you don't have an empty CD case, I would use any small plastic

container that would fit in a flat rate envelope. I saw some

small pill dispensers at the drug store today for about $1.99 that I

think should work. (the once a day pill dispensers)

My state entomologist recommended me to use alcohol but I didn't and

they seemed to be fine. I have a sample for more than a month in a

dry container and still looks the same.

One suggestion if I may, make sure you can see some legs on your

samples to make sure they are adult ones and not mite debris or

feeces.

I sent some black specks to my state entomologist and they regarded

them as pieces of dirt.. I just don't want you to go through the same

experience.

Good luck! MM

bird mites , " jww1931 " <joanwood@...> wrote:

>

>

> This morning I was able to lift some mites from bed sheets with

scotch

> tape. I got at least 8 mites on a 3-4 " piece of scotch tape. Does

> anyone know who to and how I should send these specimens?

>

> I live in the Houston, Texas area and I think I got some good

samples,

> unfortunately, I do not have a microscope to be able to photograph

them.

> I don't know how long they will last just on the tape but I could

try

> putting some in a bottle with alcohol and see if they come off the

tape.

>

> Any help appreciated.

>

> Joan

>

[Guest guest]

Very helpful post MM to me. I will follow your suggestions.manymites <manymts@...> wrote: Joan,The first time I had the samples in scotch tape and placed them in an empty CD case and sent it flat rate priority mail. If you don't have an empty CD case, I would use any small plastic container that would fit in a flat rate envelope. I saw some small pill dispensers at the drug store today for about $1.99 that I think should work. (the once a day pill dispensers)My state entomologist recommended me to use

alcohol but I didn't and they seemed to be fine. I have a sample for more than a month in a dry container and still looks the same.One suggestion if I may, make sure you can see some legs on your samples to make sure they are adult ones and not mite debris or feeces. I sent some black specks to my state entomologist and they regarded them as pieces of dirt.. I just don't want you to go through the same experience.Good luck! MMbird mites , "jww1931" <joanwood@...> wrote:>> > This morning I was able to lift some mites from bed sheets with scotch> tape. I got at least 8 mites on a 3-4" piece of scotch tape. Does> anyone know who to and how I should send these specimens?> > I live in the Houston, Texas area and I think I got some good samples,> unfortunately, I do not have a

microscope to be able to photograph them.> I don't know how long they will last just on the tape but I could try> putting some in a bottle with alcohol and see if they come off the tape.> > Any help appreciated.> > Joan>

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[Guest guest]

Thanks MM & Fritolay. I put some of my samples in alcohol and left some

on the tape and put it in a baggie and in refrigerator. I just

remembered my brother-in-law has a real powerful microscope so tomorrow

I and my mites are going to pay him a visit and see if I can get a real

close up. I did look at them through a magnifying glass and think I can

see legs on some of them. Did you leave them on the scotch tape when

you mailed them in? I took some I had lifted earlier to our

dermatologist and he said they were definitely mites but he couldn't

tell me what kind. I think they must be the kind that live forever! We

have been spraying bed morning and night with witch hazel mixed with a

few drops of pine oil and it does kill them. We have sprayed with other

things and never could find a dead one except when we sprayed with

steri-fab. The witch hazel is lots cheaper and works just as well if

not better. Anyway, thanks again, and I do have some cd cases I can

use.

Joan

> >

> >

> > This morning I was able to lift some mites from bed sheets with

> scotch

> > tape. I got at least 8 mites on a 3-4 " piece of scotch tape. Does

> > anyone know who to and how I should send these specimens?

> >

> > I live in the Houston, Texas area and I think I got some good

> samples,

> > unfortunately, I do not have a microscope to be able to photograph

> them.

> > I don't know how long they will last just on the tape but I could

> try

> > putting some in a bottle with alcohol and see if they come off the

> tape.

> >

> > Any help appreciated.

> >

> > Joan

> >

>