CHEN LAB

Insectary

Aphids are extremely small insects that can often be found airborne, particularly during the spring season. To protect our plants from unwanted pests and to ensure our aphid colonies remain uncontaminated, we enforce strict operational protocols within the insectary. The good news is that, thanks to these efforts, we have successfully avoided pest infestations for four consecutive years!

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and cooperation of our entire team. Maintaining such high standards can be challenging at times, and we truly appreciate everyone’s commitment and teamwork in making this possible. Thank you all for your hard work and collaboration!

Clip-cages

Clip cages, inspired by Jucelaine Hass’s innovative design (paper), are constructed using foam-floating tubes.

Previously, clip cages were made with heavy clips, which often damaged leaves and introduced significant bias into molecular experiments. Additionally, aphids frequently escaped from these older designs, further compromising the accuracy of the results.

The new lightweight clip cages have revolutionized the experimental process. They are not only easier to handle but also effectively prevent aphids from escaping, ensuring more reliable and consistent data.

We believe Jucelaine Hass, the first author of this groundbreaking work, deserves recognition for the contributions—perhaps should win an Aphid Nobel Prize.