Flying_Insect_Long_Read

Malaise traps are a cost and time effective way of sampling thousands of flying insects. This project will utilise malaise traps and DNA-barcoding uncover species diversity and interaction. In addition specially selected malaise caught specimens will be submitted for long read sequencing, with a particular interest in UK hoverfly populations which have been declining since the 1980s. The malaise trap project has already provided and will continue to provide a biobank of flying insect material for ongoing research and development works in order to determine optimal buffer/preservative and storage conditions to achieve the best sequencing results.