Development of a cost-effective, morphology-preserving method for DNA isolation from bulk invertebrate trap catches: Tephritid fruit flies as an exemplar

ABSTRACT: Insect identification and preservation of voucher specimens is integral to pest diagnostic and surveillance activities; yet bulk-trapped insects are a diagnostic challenge due to high catch numbers and the susceptibility of samples to environmental damage. Many insect trap catches rely on examination of morphological characters for species identifications, which is a time consuming and highly skilled task, hence there is a need for more efficient molecular approaches. Many bulk DNA extraction methods require destructive sampling of specimens, resulting in damaged, or fully destroyed, voucher specimens. We developed an inexpensive, rapid, bulk DNA isolation method that preserves specimens as pinned vouchers to a standard that allows for post-extraction morphological examination and inclusio

SUBMITTER: Fowler E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9931127 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature