From February 20 to March 31, 2017, Miss IRUMVA Vanessa is a student at the University of Burundi, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology in 3rd year Baccalaureate a training course at the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE) under the supervision of Dr. SIBOMANA Claver, professor at the University of Burundi and NZIGIDAHERA Benoît from the OBPE.

 

This course was organized as part of the annual courses organized by the University of Burundi in collaboration with other institutions, both state and private. The present course focused on “The systematic study of pollinating insects in the Rusizi National Park: Case of the Delta sector.”

 

After contacting the supervisors, activities continued with the preparation of samples stored in jars containing alcohol (70%) in the OBPE laboratory. These samples were placed on an absorbent plate and then cleaned with a brush. The legs and wings were spread out so that they were perpendicular to the body. The thorax was then pinned on the right side of his half.

 

Then, the student labelled the collected specimens. The label included the name of the collector, the place of harvest, the date, the country, and the name of the plant from which the insect was harvested. Then the specimens are put into glass boxes lined with a foam base to prick the specimens. Finally, these boxes are put in the refrigerator to prevent insects from being destroyed by microorganisms, then these boxes are placed in cabinets.

 

The various samples in the boxes were then grouped by “morphospecies”, therefore according to directly visible morphological similarities such as size, color, etc. Finally, the trainee carried out the systematic analysis using the determination keys using a stereomicroscope to temporarily give the scientific name while waiting for verification by a specialist from the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences of Belgium (IRSNB)..

 

For the intern, the internship was an opportunity to learn the different techniques used in the study of insects, which is an asset that allows her to easily integrate into the professional world.