Western Australian Museum

WAM-TS Preservation and Lodgement of Terrestrial Invertebrate Specimens

Preservation and Lodgement of Terrestrial Invertebrate Specimens

Version 7 (Nov 2011)

Preservation All specimens are to be fixed in ethanol as rapidly as possible after collection.

Each container should contain a unique coded identifier that we can quote when supplying identifications.

Small specimens (e.g. pseudoscorpions, schizomids) preferably to be fixed in 100% ethanol. Otherwise 75% ethanol is fine. Tissue samples preserved for DNA analysis are increasingly useful. As such, any specimens collected into 100% ethanol should be stored in 2 ml Cryotubes with screw cap (Cryo.s™ Greiner Bio-One, internal thread, round bottom, Article 121279 available from Interpath Service Pty Ltd, Melbourne) for deposit into the tissue collection.

Larger arthropod specimens (e.g. scorpions, trap-door spiders) should be preserved as follows:  Remove third left leg at point of specimen death using clean, small scissors (wash the scissors in water, and dry with clean paper towel between each specimen).  Place leg in 100% ethanol in 2 ml Cryotube  Preserve remainder of specimen in tube or jar (see below) in 75% ethanol (for initial preservation we recommend the ratio of about 20 x fixative to tissue. Larger specimens may be injected with ethanol to facilitate preservation. Later the specimens can be transferred to smaller vials).  Include Cryotube in same jar as specimen or closely associated with the original specimen (eg. attached by rubber band) with a label including the unique identifier code so that they can be easily related back to the original.  Myriapods: for tissue storage, please remove several legs from one side of the body for storage in 100% ethanol and the rest of the body in 75% ethanol. Please do not sub-sample segments. Millipedes have cyanide glands that can destroy tissue samples when segments are included in tissue samples for DNA anaysis.

Each container should contain a small printed label specifying the concentration of the ethanol (e.g. “100% ETOH” or “75% ETOH”). 2 WAM-TS Preservation and Lodgement of Terrestrial Invertebrate Specimens

Storage

Arachnids, Myriapods, Crustaceans, and worms

Specimens not for the tissue collection should be stored in suitable glass containers. Plastic vials are not suitable. We have tested SAMCO glass vials (available e.g. at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 1300 735 292, follow the prompts to Sales and order over the phone; or the Australian Entomological Supplies http://www.entosupplies.com.au/?path=1_1_14_144) in respect to the detioration of the plastic lids. Other makes should not be used!  Smaller specimens (75% ethanol) should be stored in SAMCO “Specimen Tubes Soda Glass Poly Stopper” vials with push-in type caps, size ca. 50x19mm.  Other vial sizes of SAMCO vials are available for different sized animals (see above suppliers).  Larger specimens should be in small glass jars. Keep specimens in cool place, ideally in a refrigerator.

Molluscs

Plastic Vials

Silverlock Packaging 28 Catalano Road, Canningvale WA 6155 Ph: (08) 9455 1366; Fax: (08) 9455 1835; Email: [email protected] 6 dram vials item code VP1040 CL1 12 dram vials Item code VP1070 CL11

Gelatine Capsules

Fragile &/or very small and dry dead-taken specimens, should be enclosed in gelatine capsules inside 6 or 12 dram vials.

The gelatine capsule sizes recommended range between #000 and #013 (depending on the size of specimens).

Contact and item details are:

PCCA Unit 1, 73 Beauchamp Road, Matraville, NSW 2036 Ph: (02) 9316 1500 or 1300 722 269; Fax: Capsule #000 – Clear Locking (Gelatin); Part 30-1931-1000 EA Capsule #013 – Clear (1/8 OZ) 1 ¼” x ½” (Gelatin); Part 30-2265-100 EA

Glassware

Glassware for preserved specimens (such as freshwater or micro-molluscs) should be either 30mL, 150mL or 250mL jars, as these are reliable products for long-term storage.

Choose appropriate size of jar so that animal(s) occupy no more than 1/3 of jar volume (recommended volume ratio of body tissue to alcohol is 1:10). A jar should be full of alcohol to minimise evaporation. Lids should have plastic inserts to prevent leakage (please check). For fragile or very small preserved specimens use 3 WAM-TS Preservation and Lodgement of Terrestrial Invertebrate Specimens

smaller glass vial (with lid or cotton wool plug) inside jar filled with alcohol. Keep specimens in cool place, ideally in a refrigerator.

Contact and item details are:

Silverlock Packaging 28 Catalano Road, Canningvale WA 6155 Ph: (08) 9455 1366; Fax: (08) 9455 1835; Email: [email protected]

30mL Clear Screw Jars: Item Code: JG0020 FL10 30mL Jar Lids White (includes insert): Item Code: CP3020 W1 250mL Clear Screw Jars: Item Code: JG2342 FL1 250mL Jar Lids White (excludes insert): Item Code: CP5000 W21 250mL Jar Lid Inserts: Item Code: CP5150 23

Cospak Pty Ltd 52 McDowell Street, Welshpool WA 6106 Ph: (08) 9258 2400; Fax: (08) 9350 6699; Email: [email protected]

150mL Clear Screw Jars: Product Code H1135 150mL Jar Lids White (includes insert): Product Code H5331

Labels

Each vial should contain a small, neatly trimmed printed label (max. size ca. 30mm x 10mm) with the following specifications:

 Arial 4.5 font  Locality information should include: 1) the state (e.g. “WA:”); 2) a reference to place listed on the Australian gazetteer (http://www.ga.gov.au/map/names/). Please do not use your internal project locality. We use the information on the label to database specimens and it should be informative for future locality searches independent of your project.  Use Latitudes and Longitudes (DD°MM’SS”) NOT UTMs or decimal degrees. Seconds can be up to two digits after the comma. Specify the datum (e.g. WGS84, GDA94)  Dates with month spelled out (abbreviated eg. Jan.), not as a numeral and year in full (2008, Not: ’08)  Collector data could also include your unique coded identifier (also possible on different label)  Collecting method  Habitat (brief habitat description, perhaps written on a separate label) eg. in rubble at base of scree slope; in litter beneath boulders under fig tree; 5cm below surface of deep red sandy soil, etc.  Collector’s unique identifier code  Do not include an identification on the locality label, as this identification might have to be corrected. 4 WAM-TS Preservation and Lodgement of Terrestrial Invertebrate Specimens

Examples:

W.A.: Mesa Y-09, ca. 64 km SSW. Pannawonica 25°18’23”S 117°51’03”E (WGS 84) 14 Dec. 2007-5 Jan. 2008 J.A. Brown, T.R. Smith (company site 667-898A) Troglofauna trap, 10 metres

W.A.: Pilbara, Hamersley Range, gully 50 metres Upstream of Dale’s Gorge 22°18’23”S 118°51’03”E (WGS 84) 14 Mar. 2011; R.T. Green, A.J. Jones (site G127) Hand collected, Acacia woodland

Litter beneath boulders under fig tree PSE11:1234

In its final size the main label looks as follows (it should not exceed 35mm width and five lines height (ca. 10mm)):

W.A.: Mesa Y-09, ca. 64 km SSW. Pannawonica 25°18’23”S 117°51’03”E (WGS 84) 14 Dec. 2007-5 Jan. 2008 J.A. Brown, T.R. Smith (company site 667-898A) Troglofauna trap, 10 metres

If the vial is suspected of containing multiple species, ensure that sufficient labels are included so that when we transfer specimens to new vials, we have enough labels.

Labels should be printed on uncoated, acid-free “Tablex System Board, 250 GSM” cut to A4 sheets (210 x 297mm). Regular cardboard or paper (e.g. as available at OfficeWorks) is not suitable for long-term storage in ethanol. Supplies of the tablex card are available from us at the museum. Please contact us to organise collection.

The labels should be printed on a laser printer and baked in an oven @100°C for 20-30 minutes to fix the printing onto the card. Final fixation is achieved when the initially matt printing becomes glossy. Don’t burn the paper, it should stay white!

Electronic Data

Electronic data must be provided during the process of logging a job through WAM-TS. Please fill in the yellow columns of the database templates associated with these guidelines. If data is not provided your specimens may get rejected. 5 WAM-TS Preservation and Lodgement of Terrestrial Invertebrate Specimens

Delivery

 Specimens should be delivered to the Western Australian Museum after filling out the on-line submission form on the Western Australian Museum website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/consultation/submissions.  When attaching electronic data for the specimens, please make sure they are formatted as requested in the WAM database template that is also available on the WAM-TS submission website (fill out yellow columns only following appropriate field character number restrictions) for ease of transfer of data to our database.  You will be sent a project-specific chain of custody receipt once the submission has been checked.  Please print the chain of custody receipt in triplicate for signing upon delivery of the specimens

Contacts:

Postal Address: Locked Bag 49 Kew Street Welshpool WA 6986

Street Address: 49 Kew Street Welshpool WA 6106 (cnr Orrong Rd & Leach Hwy)

Mieke Burger: [email protected] (Research Officer: arachnids & myriapods)

Andrew Hosie: [email protected] (Curator: Crustacea (& worms))

Corey Whisson: [email protected] (Techinical Officer: land snails) 6 WAM-TS Preservation and Lodgement of Terrestrial Invertebrate Specimens

Checklist:

Storage and labelling:

 Specimens in appropriate vials

 If specimen or part of specimen in 100% ethanol: 2 ml Cryotube used

 All labels on Tablex Board

 All labels fixed by cooking 20-30min at 100°C

 Label with unique coded identifier

 Label: “75%EtOH” or “100%EtOH”

 Locality label in 4.5 font Arial

 Locality label: locality with gazetteered reference

 Locality label: coordinates in DD°MM’SS.SS”S DD°MM’SS.SS”E (not UTM or

decimal degrees) and with datum (WGS84 or GDA94)

 Locality label: date with month spelled out (abbreviated), not in numerical, and

full year (e.g. 16 Oct. 2008)

 Locality label: collecting method (e.g. by hand, pitfall trap, troglofauna trap 20m,

 Label: habitat (e.g. Leaf litter in eucalypt woodland)

 Label size: max. 35mm x 10mm.

 Multiple locality labels if more than one species suspected for vial.

Delivery:

 Before delivery fill out online submission form at:

http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/consultation/submissions

 Print chain of custody forms in triplicate and bring with specimens to the museum

 Upon arrival at the museum – sign off on chain of custody documents