Garrett M Martin said:

> ... it refers to using a binocular microscope of 50 power as another method to
> view mites. Do I have to use a binocular microscope or can I use a monocular
> microscope?

Typical academic suggestions.  :)

For those without the resources of a major university at their disposal, even the
cheapest plastic kid's microscope will do the job.  Cheap microscopes may have
minimum magnifications more powerful than 50x, which may slow you down as
you move the sample around to get a "good view". You can use 100x without too
much trouble, but 200x and up are "too much".  Plastic optics have gotten very
good in the past few years, perhaps as good or better than the glass optics of
the 1970s.

A good strong light (a halogen gooseneck desk lamp would be ideal) is
more important than microscope quality, since you are trying to see
through the trachea.  The built-in lights on low-end microscopes are never
bright enough.  The types with the mirror under the slide platform is better.

> ...it refers to using sodium hydroxide for finding tracheal mites...

You don't need any chemicals - if you have the current edition of ABC and XYZ,
just read further on in that section to where it describes how to pop their
little heads off, and examine their trachea "as is".


                jim

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