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C Tray Beetle

Warning

Placing two C trays in a single image is not recommended. Ultimately, this workflow created more hassels downstream than time saved in imaging.

Required Elements in Each Image

  • Separate Header tray for each C tray with:
    • Place cm scale in same focal plane as specimens.
    • Include color calibration chart in each image.
    • Include domain label visible in frame.
    • Ensure species label is clearly visible.
    • Include expert or parataxonomist label.
  • Both C trays should be of similarly sized species so that they are all in focus. When in doubt, do only one tray at a time.

Image Capture

  • Zoom into an individual beetle with the magnifying glass on the bottom right of the touch screen.
  • Manually focus on the specimen.
  • Focus carefully on the top of the specimens, not labels or pins.
  • Move the zoom box to check the specimens in the other tray are also in focus.
  • Take test shot and review for proper exposure, focus, and framing.
  • Ensure all required elements are visible in frame.
  • Capture final image and verify quality before proceeding.
    • To verify, zoom in on individual beetle to ensure it is clear and in focus, see example photos.

Metadata

Because C Trays are imaged two at a time, there is a separate C Tray Template; the column values are defined on the ColumnNames Sheet:

  • Mark: Record “yes” once the header label of the unit tray has been marked with a pen to denote that imaging has occurred.
  • All of the column are the same as the A and B Trays, but there are twice as many columns, with Tray1_ or Tray2_ appended to the beginning of the column names to enter data for both trays in a single image (e.g., Tray_1_IndividualID_1).
    • If there is ever just one Tray in the image, enter it into Tray1_ columns, and put NA in to the Tray2_ columns.
  • In some cases, you will not have 4 beetles for the individual ID records, in this case do the following:
    • 1 Beetle: Record the IndividualID in IndividualID_1 and enter NA to other columns.
    • 2 Beetles: Record the IndividualID in IndividualID_1 and IndividualID_n and enter NA the middle columns (this is very important for querying).
    • 1 Beetles: Record the IndividualIDs in IndividualID_1, IndividualID_2 and IndividualID_n and enter NA the middle column (this is very important for querying).