Third-year biology students at Linköping University arranged a weekend workshop on insect identification and DNA barcoding. The event took place on 31 January and 1 February in the Darwin and Linné laboratories at Campus Valla.
Insect identification in the lab
Main taxa:
- Hymenoptera
- Lepidoptera
- Diptera
- Coleoptera
The main aim was to practise identification of insect orders, with a focus onthe main taxa above. Students worked mainly with wet specimens collected by workshop co-organizers Gabriel Johansson and Oscar Josefsson within Östergötland and Västergötland. They used stereomicroscopes to study key features.
The exercises were based on standard identification keys and included many different specimens. There was presentations of each order and for those more experienced it was possible to recieve help exploring more taxa, outside of the main focus.
Introduction to DNA barcoding
The workshop also included basic training in DNA barcoding. Students used a shared spreadsheet and digital tools to register specimens and connect morphological identification with genetic data. The work was performed on mostly already pinned insects but some pinning were introduced on site to the students. The aim was to show how traditional taxonomy and molecular methods can be combined in current biological research.
Student initiative
The workshop was organised by Anna, Gabriel, Karoline and Oscar after they'd been inspired from previous trips and workshops they had partaken in together as a group. Students worked in small groups and got to rotate to explore different aspects of the workshop. The programme also included shared meals and informal discussions during the weekend.
Identification guides were available in both Swedish and English. Materials from the workshop can be used by students who wish to continue working with insect taxonomy and barcoding.
