Nicolò Brunelli 15-10-2024

Following the completion of fieldwork, we are now currently processing the pitfall traps. Each trap is cleaned, and the propylene glycol used to preserve the dung beetles in the field replaced with ethanol, ensuring a better specimen conservation. Currently, 2/5 of the traps have been analyzed under a microscope to determine the richness and abundance of dung beetle species present.

At the same time, the individuals collected in the remaining 3/5 of the traps are being photographed using a microscope. These beetles will then be homogenized for DNA extraction. These photographs will serve an important role in the next phase: once the genetic sequences are available, we will cross-check their accuracy by verifying whether the species identified through sequencing correspond to the photographed specimens in their respective traps.