Reference material is of primary importance to serve as reference standard during the process of morphological and molecular identification of insects and mites. 

One of the main tasks of EURL for Insects and Mites is to establish and maintain a high quality collection of reference material, called Reference collection (Regulation (EU) 2017/625 Art. 94 (2b)).  The EURL's efforts focus on the recovery of specimens for the 16 species considered as priority for the Union territory (Priority pests, Annex of Regulation (EU) 2019/1702). In addition, the Reference collection includes other EU-regulated insects and mites species, based on their availability. This Reference collection will allow the EURL to carry out activities such as training sessions and proficiency testing and will include specimens and DNA extracts to be transferred to NRLs upon request to serve in their diagnostic activities.

Reference material is available in two forms:

• morphological specimens (dry pinned material, preserved in vials with ethanol, slide-mounted)
• DNA collections (DNA extracts, artificial positive controls for selected pests and sequence data)

For submitting a request for specimens, please contact the EURL staff at the email address eurl-insects-mites@anses.fr  

For submitting a request for DNA, please contact the EURL staff at the email address phytolab-molecular@ages.at

Email address: eurl-insects-mites@anses.fr