Vibrating glass stylets: tools for precise microsurgery on cuticular structures.

Precisely localized lesions in cuticular structures of insects can be produced by fine glass rods, vibrating transversally at frequencies above 100 kHz. The oscillating edge of the glass rod scrapes off the chitinous material at minimal elastic deformation during treatment. The achieved roughness height is in the 0.1 micron range. The method is most fruitfully applied to insect sensilla. Studies of central projections of sensory nerves (degeneration; cobalt staining) profit from the new chance of eliminating selected single sensilla in close vicinity to others which are to remain intact. This can barely be achieved with conventional fine scissors.