Botany | Butterfly Farming | Gardening | Horticulture | Monarch (Danaus plexippus) | Queen (Danaus gilippus)
DIY Guide: How to Test Milkweed Plants for O.E. Using a 40X Student-Grade Microscope
Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (O.E.) is a protozoan parasite that can infect Monarch and Queen butterflies. The parasite’s spores often reside on milkweed leaves, the primary food source for Monarch larvae.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of testing milkweed leaves for the presence of O.E. spores using just a 40X student-grade microscope.
Materials Needed
- 40X Student-Grade Microscope
- Milkweed leaves
- Transparent tape (Scotch tape or similar)
- Glass microscope slides
- Tweezers
- Latex or nitrile gloves
- Notebook and pen for recording observations
Safety Precautions
- Always handle the microscope carefully.
- Wear gloves to avoid contamination.
- Dispose of used materials properly.
