Méndez-Herrera Technique: New Clearing Technique Proposed for Immature Stages and Internal Structures of Adult Insects

Insects must be preserved before identification. The objective of this work was to propose a fast and effective clearing technique for immature stages, mostly larvae and internal adult structures, for permanent mounting in lamellae, thus reducing time. The technique was modified from the conventional dehydration process. The technique reduced the times for clearing larvae and internal structures of insects without need for dehydration of alcohols that can require 3 or more hours of time.