Sample information

The specimen was collected using a flying insect trap containing banana peels and vinegar per the Arthropod Collection Traps Guide provided by the Wolbachia Project. The trap was hung from a tree branch adjacent to a small creek in a suburban backyard for two days. The trap was cut open and the (predominantly flying) insects were removed and preserved in 70% alcohol. The trap was then placed on the ground for an additional three days capturing additional insects. These insects included both crawling and flying insects. These insects were removed and preserved in 70% alcohol.

The specimen was identified as a Small Ground Crickets Genus Neonemobius using the iNaturalist app.

Methods

GoTaqGreen polymerase was used. Reaction conditions were per Lab 3: PCR (Wolbachia Project Guide) for single reaction PCRs (separate reactions were run with the Wolbachia primers and the cytochrome oxidase primers). The PCR reaction volume was 25 uL. 5 uL of each reaction was run on a 2% agarose gel. The relevant lanes are boxed.   

Results

All controls were correct meaning there was not contamination. The sample with the wolbachia primers lit up indicating the presence of the virus. The CO1 sample did not light up indicating that their could be low quality DNA indicating that wolbachia is present but with a low confidence.