> Here are some tips I have found that have really helped me. > > - get set up with a good light source if your microscope does not > have its own. > > - I never pin down the bee. Rather I hold it in my hand and move it > around to locate and focus. > > - Get a REALLY GOOD pair of tweezers. This is crucial. Mine come > from a lapidary/jewellery supplier here in Edmonton. Okay, I tried holding them in the fingers - much better! I froze a few that looked really poor and then pulled them apart. I notice that after freezing and pulling apart that there appears to be a membrane over the tracheae that make s them a little hard to see. So far nothing - no mites. I think I'll go back to alcohol unless someone knows something about the freezing that I haven't taken into consideration. Regards Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One, Swalwell, Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Honey. Bees, Art, & Futures <http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka>