Due to their large size, nymphal and adult ticks are normally identified under a stereo microscope.
The ball and collar section of a roll-on deodorant bottle is a simple piece of equipment that allows specimens to be orientated with minimal handling.
Press a small piece of Blu-tackTM or plasticine onto the top of the ball. Make a dent in it and rest the tick in the dent.
Rotate the ball until the required structure comes into view.
If specimens are taken directly from preservative, lay them on absorbent paper for a few seconds before examination.
The residual film of liquid that obscures the morphology is drawn away.
Sample sorting and some identifications are done using a stereo microscope (= dissecting microscope).
This type depends on light reflecting off the surface of an object and gives a three-dimensional image of it.
The maximum magnification is usually about 100x. Specimens do not need special preparation and can be examined live, in alcohol or air-dried.