INSECTS delivered: from damp dwelling to dry pinning

...from obscurity to a preserved data rich entity in a monumental institution far far from their place and habitat of origin.

We managed to deliver our damp bags of insects to Darren at the Natural History Museum in Oxford just before he went home for Christmas.  In the process he showed us the results of all Mariel's hard work.  It was so moving to see a beautifully prepared polystyrene sheet with tiny neat labels bearing the location 'Mareja' and insects in all sizes from the almost microscopic to inch long.  There they are quite dead and preserved but representing their species and the reserve and much else.

Early in December the Rangers carried out the second dung-beetle transect, carefully following the instruction they were given by Zia, Catherine, Mariel and Peter in the summer.

We had the option of human, cow, pig or elephant dung... we managed to collected fresh elephant dung, discovering a huge amount on the road to Mareja.

Jose and Saleman did a fantastic job - placing the small muslin wrapped dung bundles over a buried cup containing soapy water, under a plate canopy, against the rain.  Each trap 50m apart on a 500m transect.  It didn't go precisely to plan as Jose disappeared for an impromtu holiday for 10 days but as a first attempt by the Rangers to carry out research...it was fantastic.  They did the transects in 4 of the 5 locations for 24hours each (not the ideal of three days) - next time.

And they bagged their catch in special researchers bags with essential data written on water-proof paper and then filled with 90% alcohol.  They caught many more insects than in the summer as the rains have begun.

I wrapped them all in many plastic bags and transported them home...they arrived and are now awaiting sorting by Mariel and identification by world specialists.  Mariel is doing this wonderful work as a volunteer...THANK YOU from me and your Mareja research team.