Auto-Montage Helps Generate Accurate 3D Insect Images For World’s Largest Hymenoptera Classification Programme

October 24th 2006 Cambridge, UK: Syncroscopy, the world leader in unique digital imaging solutions for microscopy, is pleased to announce its Auto-Montage software is being used at a major US entomology centre, to image different species of Hymenoptera as part of the prestigious ‘Assembling the Tree of Life’ programme.

Researchers in the Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky are using Auto-Montage to generate images of braconid wasps belonging to the order Hymenoptera. This is part of a large collaborative project to produce a definitive Hymenoptera classification and images produced from this programme are being archived in MorphBank ( www.morphbank.net ), an online image repository for biological images, allowing future researchers to benefit from this imaging effort.

Additionally, researchers at the University of Kentucky, in collaboration with the University of Illinois, are using Auto-Montage to create identification keys to economically important Cotesia species ( www.sharkeylab.org/cotesia/cotesia.cgi ).

Katja Seltmann, a Laboratory Technician at the University of Kentucky stated: “The Braconidae are a very species rich group of wasps with an estimated more than 50,000 species world-wide, so it is important to have a method of generating image vouchers for the DNA sequences used in creating that classification and this process needs to be both precise and rapid. Obtaining images of whole insects with one picture is difficult because some areas are out of focus. We used to produce in-focus images for publications by manually pasting single frames together, or by dissecting areas such as the wing to get a flat image but this was time consuming.”

“Since we began using Auto-Montage, we can now quickly produce accurate, detailed images of a whole specimen. Using an image or series of images makes it easy for others to identify an insect when a specimen may not be available, and this image information may also be useful later in the production of keys to identify beneficial hymenopterans,” continued Seltmann.

Jason Dempsey, Syncroscopy's Product Specialist said: “’Assembling the Tree of Life’ is a very important programme and we are pleased that Auto-Montage is helping to accelerate the pace of research in such a major project. The choice of Auto-Montage shows the confidence entomologists on this project have in Auto-Montage’s ability to produce accurate insect images because some of these images will be used as voucher species standards throughout the world.”

-Ends-

For Further Information Contact:
Jayne Arthur, Syncroscopy, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.
Tel: +44(0) 1223-727127 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101
Email: jayne.arthur@syncroscopy.com  Web site: www.auto-montage.com 

Katja Seltmann, Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091, USA.
Tel: +1 859-257-3169
Email: seltmann@scs.fsu.edu  Web site: www.sharkeylab.org

Editor Contact:
Dr Sue Pearson, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.
Tel/Fax +44 (0)1462-635327 Email: Sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com

Note to Editors
About Syncroscopy

Syncroscopy develops and manufactures world-leading digital imaging solutions for extending the capabilities of optical microscopes. Syncroscopy's innovative brands include: Auto-Montage, unique software that produces infinite depth of focus images and has 3-D modelling and measurement features and SyncroScan, an automated system, which attaches to digital microscopes to allow high speed sample scanning and precise image stitching. Syncroscopy's software and systems are used by more than 2,000 organisations internationally and include many of the world's major research institutes.

Syncroscopy, founded in 1998 is a division of the Synoptics Group based in Cambridge, UK. The Group’s other divisions, Syngene and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for molecular biology and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 60 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA.

About the Department of Entomology
The Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky strives to enhance the quality of human life and health, and to sustain its environmental resources through a better understanding of insects and related arthropods. The Department conducts fundamental and applied research on insects, implements integrative and effective systems for insect pest management, as well as enhances science education and public appreciation of human-insect interactions.