Operating Instructions for Computer Method.

The spreadsheet downloaded from this site is courtesy of Ruary Rudd and is supplied free with the simple request, if you re-publish this information it is required you publish with credits the following information.

Morphometry Spreadsheet supplied by Ruary Rudd, published by The Bee Works,
http://www.beeworks.com reprinted in part or in whole with the express permission of the authors.
Copyright 2001

Equipment Required.
Computer 486 or better Scanner.
Capable of 1200dpi Optical
Graphics software using X-Y point plotting
Graphics printer

Bee samples from each hive to be tested can be taken easily with a wide neck jar, part filled with Methyl Hydrate which kills the bees quickly. Hold the jar below the inner cover, which is held at a slight angle, as the jar neck is moved across the surface bees fall in and are killed and preserved. A minimum of 30 is required. Another alternative, pick bees off the alighting board and drop them into the jar. Useful if the bees are down in the hive. Just ensure you don't get the one with the long abdomen, or all this is for naught!

Having downloaded the MS Excel, Morphometry plotting spreadsheet you will notice on page 1 the plotting area marked A to G and below that the X-Y line. As each point, indicated on the scanned wing graphic, is clicked on the computer will supply an X-Y series of numbers, these should be marked down on each plotting point from points A-G. The Cubital Index and Discoidal Shift are automatically calculated. Once you have a completed sample, compare the numbers obtained with the racial characteristics to determine strain or degree of hybridisation.

The sampling is set for 30 bees; it is vital that you only test for the sampling which the scattergram is set for, do not leave blank lines as it will create errors. If you wish to increase or decrease the volume, 50 will be the maximum obtainable. To adjust the sampling volume, click on the scattergrid to highlight it, then go to Chart, Source data, Series and adjust lines 2 and 3 to the sample number required.

Use the downloaded Sample Grid to assemble the right front forewing samples, we found it essential to have a reference point to align the wings to the angle necessary. If the grid is printed, the boxes should be formed close to the width of a wing. The use of a reasonable open time clear glue is recommended, and to prevent the sheet sticking to the platten use a strip of Scotch Tape to mask the glue area. Due to the small size of wings, visual aids would be helpful. The author has a pair of binocular magnifiers, which are helpful; a pair of flat-ended tweezers are a must.

On scanning the sample file it is advisable to trim the scan as close as possible to the wings, this will cause a smaller file to be saved. Set the page size to 200% and 1200dpi, save the file as a .jpg with at least 20% compression or the file is likely to be too large and might cause 'Out of memory' problems. If you're unsure about the scanners ability to produce the same scan in both horizontal and vertical axis, check as follows. Place a measured object and scan first one way, then turn the object through 90 degrees and rescan, both scans should produce the same measurement.