Instructions for Submitting Insect & Disease Specimens for Identifcation

Both zone offices are equipped to receive forest insect or disease specimens submitted from the field for identification. Specimens may be shipped to the appropriate zone office (addresses shown below). The following procedures for collecting and shipping specimens should be used:

Collecting

1. Adequate material should be collected
2. Adequate information should be recorded, including:
   1. location of collection
   2. when collected
   3. who collected the specimen
   4. host description (species, age, condition, etc.)
   5. area description (forest type, site conditions, etc.)
   6. unusual conditions (frost, poor drainage, etc.)
3. Personal opinion of the cause of the problem may be helpful.

Packing

1. Larvae and other soft-bodied insects should be shipped in small screw-top vials or bottles containing at least 70 percent isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Make sure bottles are well sealed.
2. Pupae and hard-bodied insects may be shipped either in alcohol or in small boxes. Specimens should be placed between layers of tissue paper in the boxes. Pack carefully and make sure there is little movement of material within the box. Do not pack insects in cotton.
3. Needle or foliage diseases: Do not ship in plastic bags as condensation can become a problem. Use a paper bag or wrap in newspaper. Pack carefully and make sure there is little movement within the box.
   Mushrooms and conks: Do not ship in plastic bags. Either pack and ship immediately or air-dry and pack. To pack, wrap specimens in newspaper and pack into a shipping box with more newspaper. If on wood, include some of the decayed wood.

Federal Forest Health Zone Offices

Arizona Zone Forest Health
2500 South Pine Knoll Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

New Mexico Zone Forest Health
333 Broadway Blvd., SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102

State Insect and Disease Specialists

Arizona

Forest Health Program
P.O. Box 15018
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011

New Mexico

NMSU Coop. Ext. Forest Entomologist
New Mexico EMNRD, Forestry Division
P.O. Box 1948
Santa Fe, NM 87504