Sample information

The arthropod was caught outside, on the ground next to a tree. We did a quick photo ID with a bug identification app and determined that it was a blister beetle (preliminary identification). We caught the bug on April 15, 2026, during spring season, where it was an unsually warm and sunny day (~70 to 75 Fahrenheit outside that day). We collected the arthropod at around 11:30 AM.

Methods

DNA extraction: I got my tissue from the abdomen, where the reproductive tissue of blister beetles are and where Wolbachia would most likely be present. I ground it up with silica quartz/sterile sand.

Gel Electrophoresis notes: My sample was in lane 2 (lane 1 was blank, so the “first” lane). The sample exhibited Co1, and so did the positive controls so the PCR processes were likely completed correctly. The first half of the image is the Co1 gel, the lower half is the Wolbachia gel. My lane (lane 2) did not exhibit any wolbachia bands, so I don’t expect to get any wolbachia presence after sequencing.

Results

I don’t think there is any wolbachia presence because the gel electrophoresis did not yield a band for my lane, which there would be a band if there was wolbachia. The positive control worked as expected, and yielded a band which indicates that there is likely just no Wolbachia present in my sample.