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New Equipment?

Started By Devi , Nov 26 2020 8:27 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Devi - Posted November 26 2020 - 8:27 PM

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Hey guys,

I want to be totally ready for next anting season because there are so many things I did horribly this season and would love to do better.  A lot of times, I wish I had some extra equipment that could've helped...  

 

1.  I am so tired of my crappy phone camera that will never focus on queens I need to ID.  Macro Lens'.  I've heard a lot about them, but have never got one, nor found 1 that is reasonably cheap.  What are your guys' experience with these, and would you recommend I get one?  If so, what brand/make would you recommend?  (Something reasonably cheap, I'm ballin' on a budget here.)  

 

2.  I would like to have a black light so maybe after a rain-storm I can leave it outside for an hour or so.  I like to just hang out on my back porch, so it'd be fun for me to just be out there and monitor it...  I found on on Amazon that is like a flash-light thing, and I would prefer that over the bulb.  it's cheaper, and easier to operate just because it doesn't need to plug into an outlet, and can use batteries.  If that doesn't work, I can do a bulb too, but it's worth looking into.  

 

3.  What would you guys recommend?  I am always open to expanding my ant equipment collection, and would love to hear your guy's recommendations?  What is something that you guys can't go anting without?

 

Thanks! :)

Devi


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#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 27 2020 - 5:43 AM

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1) Definitely get a clip on macro lens for your phone.
2) The blacklight flashlights aren’t strong enough to attract much. I recommend one of these bulbs screwed into a regular lamp: https://www.amazon.c...ob_b_asin_title
3) Definitely get an aspirator or make your own with Madbiologist’s tutorial.
  • TennesseeAnts and Devi like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline Devi - Posted November 27 2020 - 8:17 AM

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1) Definitely get a clip on macro lens for your phone.
2) The blacklight flashlights aren’t strong enough to attract much. I recommend one of these bulbs screwed into a regular lamp: https://www.amazon.c...ob_b_asin_title
3) Definitely get an aspirator or make your own with Madbiologist’s tutorial.

 

Thank you so much for your advice!  Where might I find MadBiologist's tutorial?


#4 Offline DDD101DDD - Posted November 27 2020 - 8:26 AM

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1. Yeah they're pretty useful. Bear in mind that they focus at a few cm(or less) away from the target. I bought this one https://www.amazon.c...e?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I'm willing to bet there are better ones out there though so don't buy it. Also it's unavailable. Here are some pictures I took with it below.

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2. I've never used a blacklight so I don't know.

3. Digital microscopes are pretty fun, but not really necessary. Useful if you want to identify stuff though. The quality of the picture isn't exactly good though, and they can't really be used outside. This is the one I use. https://www.amazon.c...6494391&sr=8-6 Here's a picture of a dead Myrmica queen's head.

S20201121 0023

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He travels, he seeks the p a r m e s a n.

#5 Offline DDD101DDD - Posted November 27 2020 - 8:28 AM

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1) Definitely get a clip on macro lens for your phone.
2) The blacklight flashlights aren’t strong enough to attract much. I recommend one of these bulbs screwed into a regular lamp: https://www.amazon.c...ob_b_asin_title
3) Definitely get an aspirator or make your own with Madbiologist’s tutorial.

 

Thank you so much for your advice!  Where might I find MadBiologist's tutorial?

 

https://www.formicul...spirator-guide/


He travels, he seeks the p a r m e s a n.

#6 Offline AleeGuy - Posted November 27 2020 - 9:17 AM

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https://www.reddit.c...iki/photographythis guide will help you get a really high/excellent quality pics using a phone camera.

#7 Offline Devi - Posted November 28 2020 - 6:30 PM

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Awesome, thanks so much everyone!


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#8 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted November 29 2020 - 2:27 PM

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yes, the cheap black light does not work, i have it. not close to powerful enough. 


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#9 Offline M_Ants - Posted November 29 2020 - 2:32 PM

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What you need is a mercury vapor light. I got one at thrift store and it's blinding. 


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Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about

#10 Offline NickAnter - Posted November 29 2020 - 2:49 PM

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I use a cheap UV floodlight. Not super powerful, but the light spreads quite far. I can catch quite a lot of stuff with it.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

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