Serial Sections from Plastic-Embedded Specimens; Arthropods in Methacrylate

Abstract

Testing of embedding technics adapted to 1-5 μ sectioning of mites in their developmental stages has lead to the selection of methacrylate resins. This kind of embedding medium supplies the bonding necessary, especially with yolky eggs, to maintain the integrity of fragile or refractory specimens during sectioning. Whereas paraffin offers the advantage of ribboning, the customary use of a plastic matrix does not. However, DeGiusti and Ezman (1955) use mixtures of plastic and paraffin to obtain the ribboning qualities of the latter.