Cage Cleaning Protocol

Materials and Equipment Needed

None

at least 30 minutes, varies with the number of cage to be cleaned

Step	Image
While in the lab, set out the clean cages. Pour enough Hydrocorn into the bottom of the cage so that the bottom is no longer visible.
Add deionized water to the Hydrocorn, wetting most of the Hydrocorn. The water should be half the height of the Hydrocorn (see red mark in photo at right).
If new sponges, flowers, or beans are needed, place them in baskets while in the lab.
Place the clean baskets on top of the hydrocorn.
Label the cage lids with the identification numbers of the cages you are cleaning. Use colored lab tape to write on.
Take the cages to the growth chambers in PSL room 1309.
Carefully place all the old beans, and flowers into the new cages, disturbing the thrips as little as possible.
If large numbers of thrips remain in the basket, place a fresh jar of flowers into the old cage to attract the thrips. Wait a few hours or until the next day and transfer the jar of flowers into one of the clean cages. See cut flower protocol.
When all cages are changed, transfer Hydrocorn to blue dish washing pans (in the lab). Put dish pans in the freezer to kill any remaining fungi or thrips. Hydrocorn can then be autoclaved or soaked in 10% bleach solution overnight. After soaking in bleach, Hydrocorn needs to be rinsed 3 times with plan water and dried before storing in clean buckets.
Cages, baskets, and any other thrips material should then be washed and dried. See washing protocol.