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SirJet: Collecting ants / picking them up? (30. Jul 2008 20:52)

When collecting ants and placing then in a test tube, what is the best way to physically pick them up without hurting them?

Can you use your fingers or some kind of tweezers?

Thanks.

miszt: (30. Jul 2008 21:02)

A Pooter :) images.google.com should give you an idea of what they are, I'm writing a DIY artical on making diffrent types to, I'll post it up when its done :)

I dont recomend using tweezers for any kind of UK Species, they are very small and fragile

SirJet: (30. Jul 2008 22:16)

Awsome, thanks Mistzt.

Think I can make one easily enought, just hope I don't forget the gauze! lol

tail__: (31. Jul 2008 09:08)

I don't use any equipment, I only drive the ants into a test tube using fingers or leaves. Sometimes it is better to drive the ant on a leaf or piece of paper and then throw from this into the tube. I never pick the insects directly, (at least the ones I want to keep alive ;} ) maybe some large, armored beetles, otherwise it is too easy to hurt them.

JimmyVe: (31. Jul 2008 21:29)

Me to, i always drive the ants into the tube with some leaves, pretty easy and you don't hurt them with it.

miszt: (31. Jul 2008 23:14)

Highly recomend you guys build yourselves a pooter...I know its easy to drive them into test tubes, but once you realize how easy it is to collect them in a pooter, you'll never go back!

Although one thing you need to be careful of is Formic Acid poisoning, although its not usually dangerous (unless you try and suck up half a Formica rufa nest) its very irratating and can give you a nasty cough, so you must be quick, and not keep ants in the pooter container to long

highered: (1. Aug 2008 09:24)

With experience I have found that one can safely pick up ants very gently with your fingers, (the bigger the ants the bigger for this) but without experience its too easy to use too little or too much pressure.