15 min to 1 hour depending on tasks that need to be done.
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Check the log sheet on the clipboard for daily tasks to be done.
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Get materials to care
for the thrips colony. Depending on daily schedule this may include fresh sponges, washed green beans, a bag for old beans, and/or
fresh flowers. For ease of transportation, all the materials can be
carried in a small or large plastic basket. |
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Check growth chamber readings. The chamber is set at 26 C and 75% RH,
although environmental conditions in the room may cause them to differ somewhat. If
the humidity is reading '99' the wick on the wet bulb thermometer has
dried out. See humidity sensor . |
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| Fresh beans (4-6 per cage) are added to the colony three
times a week to provide a constant fresh food source. See
the bean washing protocol
for purchasing and washing
instructions. |
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| Fresh sponges soaked with dilute honey are placed
in the cages twice per week. A small amount of honey should be
added to sponges with a squeeze bottle on days when sponges are
not changed. See honey protocol. |
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| Beans which are dried or have lots of fungal
growth are removed from the colony daily and placed in a plastic bag. Tap dried beans on the basket to remove thrips.
Don't do this with beans that have fungal growth. Anything that has
come in contact with materials having fungal growth (including hands) should
be sanitized with 95% alcohol before touching fresh beans or working with another cage. |
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Once all the dead material has been removed from all the cages, the bag
should be sealed while still in the growth chamber.
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| Water in the bottom of the cages helps to keep humidity up. The water level
should be at about 1/2 the height of the Hydrocorn (clay rocks underneath
the baskets). |
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| Deionized water is added if necessary using a beaker
and carefully pouring the water in the corner of the cage. Avoid pouring
water into the basket, as the thrips crawl in it and drown. |
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| While caring for cages, also monitor for insects
other than thrips (squash them if you see them), excessive fungal growth
in the cages (an indication the cages need to be cleaned and the Hydrocorn
replaced), and large numbers of thrips on the sticky card (either the card
needs to be replaced or the weatherstripping in the cage lids may have
gaps in it). |
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Thrips baskets should be exchanged and washed
weekly. Cages and Hydrocorn should
be cleaned every 4-5 weeks or as needed (see cage cleaning). The
dirty Hydrocorn should be placed in blue wash tubs and placed in the
freezer immediately after the cages are cleaned. This decreases the
chances for lab contamination from the Hydrocorn being brought into the
lab.
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Upon returning to the lab, place the sealed bag into the freezer.
The bag must stay in the freezer for at least 7 days to ensure that all
thrips are dead.
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Wash and/or put away any materials used to care for the thrips.
Make sure any work space that has been used is clean. Check off on the clipboard tasks completed and leave
notes about anything unusual noticed while caring for colony if necessary.
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