[Pollinator] Recipe for Calberla's Fluid

[Peter Bernhardt]

We've received another request for a recipe for Calberla's fluid to stain
pollen carried by bees and other pollinators.  There is no reason to use a
Safranin stain at al if you are using any form of light microscroscopy.
Safranin sucks as it invariably gets into pollen cytoplasm obscuring exine
apertures needed for identification.  Restrict your staining to Calberla's
fluid with a basic fuchsin base.

Mother Bernhardt's Calberla's Solution

5 ml glycerin
10 ml of 95 or 100% ethanol
15 ml distilled water
1 - 3 drops of home made aqueous basic fuchsin based on a super saturated
slurry*

*The trick is to start by making a super-saturated solution of basic
fuchsin and water (a slurry) and then filter the solution to remove the
crystals.  The highly concentrated solution of basic fuchsin can now be
bottled and stored indefinitely (no refrigeration needed).

Now, add the first three ingredients.  When staining the solution of
ethanol and water add the basic fuchsin solution drop-by-drop until it
turns pink and you can still see your finger on the opposite side of the
bottle.  Think of the pink in a stained glass window.  If the solution
turns ruby, blood, or brick red you've over done it.

I've also been asked about pollen atlases for the midwest.  There are
none.  Dr. David Bogler started an online pollen atlas of the Midwest via
the Missouri Botanical Garden.  it was not finished due to lack of funding
but he continues to work on it.  Therefore, it's my advice you make a
library collection of pollen slides of known species and photograph them as
you go (at different angles and magnifications).

Peter Bernhardt, Prof. of Biology
Dept. of Biology
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO 63103
Tel. (office): 314-977-7152
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