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If you have found woodlice please fill the form under "map"

Join the BlueWoodlice detectives in a hunt for blue woodlice. Blue woodlice are not photoshopped! Woodlice (or pillbugs or roly polys) can be infected by a virus (called iridovirus) that forms crystals in their shell. The crystalline structure gives the infected woodlice an intense blue or purple colour. 


In this project, you would have to go into your garden or a park or forest and try to find woodlice (they really like to hide under dead wood or rocks). Record the location of where you look and if there were or were not any blue woodlice. If you find blue woodlice, in addition to letting us know where you found it, collect some blue woodlice, freeze them and send them to us. Woodlice are not dangerous for humans (and you cannot catch this virus!). Infected blue woodlice usually die within a week. 


By becoming a BlueWoodlice detective, you will help us with three research projects: testing of antivirals (the colour allows us to know if the antiviral works much quicker than current methods), study the virus assembly that leads to the blue colour, and also create a map of where the infection is! (We are a team of researchers from different research themes: antivirals, photonic structures and entomology)

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We welcome participants from anywhere in the world but realise the cost of posting any blue Woodlice you find to the UK may be prohibitive. Even if you are unable to send your blue Woodlice, please still record the location.

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You can also visit our citizen science project on scistarter: https://scistarter.org/blue-woodlice-detective  

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​0. Read the safety instruction below before starting to look for woodlice. Have a look at our video!

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    1. Go in your garden or a nearby forest with a container, turn logs or large stones or bark, leaf litter or compost. Woodlice tend to be on the underside of the turned object, rather than on the underlying soil surface. Some of them might move fast so be ready! If you found woodlice move to point 2, otherwise go find another log or stone.
 

    2. Record your position and the presence/absence of blue woodlice. Take a photo if you need/want a certificate (no face in the picture).

    3. If you find blue woodlice, collect them. (any closed container will do, for example empty jam jar, tupperware box, plastic freezer bag...). (use gardening gloves to pick up bugs ; if using glass there is a risk of breakage, read safety instructions below)


    4. Freeze blue woodlice overnight or longer. (to kill them painlessly; blue woodlice die from infection within a week and other woodlice become contaminated by eating them). (risk of cold burn, fire burn or electric shock, read safety instructions below)

    5. Send us the woodlice, and don’t forget to let us know your results/locations. Address: Blue Woodlice Detectives, The Mill, M1 3BB, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. To send the woodlice, put them into a sealable plastic bag and then inside an envelope or box for posting (~£4-5).

    6. Have fun!

   

​Material needed: 

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  1. Notebook and pencil (or notes on phone but it might get dirty!)

  2. Old knife or stick for poking about amongst soil, leaf litter or beneath loose bark

  3. Container (jam jar, freezer bag, tupperware box…)

  4. Optional: Envelope and stamp to send us the specimens

  5. Optional: hand lens for identification

  6. Optional: phone or camera to take a photo
     

​SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS


•    Do not put yourself or others at risk. 
•    Participants are advised to not to try and move massive flags or tree trunks to access the woodlice.
•    Make sure all areas have good level of lighting
•    Do not go in the forest at night, avoid going in the forest alone (do not go alone if under 18)
•    Children need to be supervised by an adult
•    Wash hands with soap/alcohol gel after activity, and before touching your face
•    If looking for woodlice out of your home, ensure you are wearing proper footwear/clothes and carry water with you
•    Due to Covid-19 stay 2 metres away from people not from your household. Follow advice from local authorities
•    Where appropriate, correct PPE will be advised for the relevant step (ex: thick gloves (gardening gloves) to pick up bugs)
Use of freezer: 
•    Visual checks before use to make sure equipment, cables are free from defects.
•    If fault occurs stop use and report it as soon as possible
•    Limit the open time of the freezer.
•    Limit the handling time of frozen items.
Use of glass:
•    Check that glassware is suitable for procedure before use. •    Make sure it is in good condition, free from chips ad cracks. Handle with care and do not apply excessive force. 
•    If broken use dust pan & brush or forceps to pick up broken pieces, Do not use hands.  
•    Never apply excessive force. 
•    If possible use plastic bag instead of glassware to collect and freeze the woodlice.
Woodlice induced risk:
•    Woodlice iridovirus (Invertebrate iridescent virus 31) is not transmissible to mammals (humans included). Woodlice do not carry any disease that can be transmitted to humans. They do not sting or bite either. https://www.who.int/zoonoses/diseases/en/ lists diseases that can spread to humans. None are woodlice-borne.
•    Woodlice feed on mould, rotting leaves or wood so can potentially cause superficial damage to furniture. Make sure containers are closed before bringing it into your house, and directly place it inside of freezer to kill them

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