CISEO: Great Gravidity References

Resource Sheets
-Plant Propogation
-Rearing Aphids
-Bottle Cages
-Clip Cages
-Eyelash Brush
-Petri Dish Habitat
-External Aphid Anatomy
-Internal Aphid Anatomy
-Aphid Observation Lab
-Sampling Methods
-Data Collection
-Observation Check Sheet
-Sample Rubric for Group Presentation

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Clip Cages

Clip cages can be clipped over a leaf-feeding insect without disturbing the insect or the plant. These cages provide a simple way to isolate one or more aphids, whiteflies or other small insects for investigation. Presented here are two of many possible designs.

Petri Dish Clip Cage (encloses an entire leaf)

Materials needed:

· 5.5cm plastic petri dish (figure 1)

· 4-6cm long metal hair clip (figure 2)

· organza or silk screening material, 1-2 yds.

· scissors

· pliers

· ruler or other measuring device

· hot glue gun and glue stick or silicon sealer

One or a combination of the following:

· hand drill with 2-3cm dia. hole cutter or spade bit

· coping saw and 5-8mm bit and brace

· soldering iron with 5-8mm conical point

Instructions:

1) Using pliers, bend top portion of hair clip so it fits over petri dish as shown (figure 3).

2) Cut a 2-3cm diameter hole in the center of the petri dish lid. If you use a hand drill and hole cutter (figure 4) or spade bit, follow all manufacturer's safety precautions. The hole may be burned out (melted) using the hot tip of a soldering iron or you may make a pilot hole and then use a coping saw to cut along the circumference of the hole. This is a ventilation hole; it does not have to be perfectly round.

3) Cut a piece of organza that is 1-2cm larger than the size of the ventilation hole.

4) Use a glue gun or silicon sealer to adhere the organza over the cut hole. Do this in a well ventilated room.

5) With the petri dish assembled, use the drill or soldering iron to make a hole through both the top and bottom sides of the petri dish (figure 5). The resulting holes should appear as in figure 6.

6) Glue the hair clip in place using the hot glue gun or silicon sealer as shown (figures 7 and 8).

7) This clip cage is placed over the leaf with the stem of the plant passing through the side hole of the cage.


figure 1	figure 2	figure 3	figure 4

Small Clip Cage (encloses a portion of a leaf)

Materials needed:

· 2cm dia x 2-3cm clear plastic aquarium uplift tubing

(figure 1). (Note: purchase a 20cm length for ease of

cutting.)

· ruler or other measuring device

· fine to medium point permanent marker

· hacksaw or small hand saw

· general purpose file for metal and/or plastic

· soldering iron with 5-8mm conical point

· 4-6cm long metal hair clip (figure 2)

· 2-2.5cm dia plastic washer

· 10cm²x 5mm thick foam or similar cushioning

· 10cm² organza or other fine screening

· scissors

· pliers

· hot glue gun and glue sticks

· 5-8mm cork

figure 5

figure 6

figure 7

Instructions:

1) Measure, mark, and cut uplift tubing (figure 1).

2) Using soldering iron, melt a hole in the tubing as shown (figure 1). This hole is the tool port.

3) Smooth all rough edges using a file.

4) Bend hair clip symmetrically such that it grasps the tubing when in a closed position (figure 2).

5) Use the marker to trace the outside diameter of the washer onto the foam and organza. Cut one circle from the organza and two circles of foam. Use scissors to cut the center out of each of the foam circles (figure 3).

6) Use the glue gun to affix the plastic washer to the upper tine of the hair clip as shown. Then glue one of the foam circles to the washer (figure 4).

7) Glue the other foam circle to the rim of one edge of the uplift tubing (figure 5).

8) Glue the circle of organza to the other end of the uplift tubing (figure 5).

9) Glue the netting side of the uplift tubing to the empty tine (figure 6).

10) Insert cork into the tool port.

11) When clipped over an insect feeding on the underside of a leaf, the cage will look like this (figure 7).