Individual and Group Marking Methods for Fly-population Studies

Abstract

Four different methods of marking insects are described in detail. Although they have been applied by the present authors only to the British Calliphorinae, they should be of value in ecological studies of mobile arthropods in general. These methods are: individual marking with paints, mass powdering with dyes, radioactive labelling with ³²P, and a combination of the last two. A fifth method, in which the emerging fly labels itself with fluorescent dust, is briefly described. The circumstances affecting the choice of method are outlined.