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Posted July 15 2015 - 6:52 AM
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Does anyone have a technique of using tweezers to pick up ants or brood effectively without squishing them? The last few times I used them to pick up pupae, I was so scared of smashing them I kept dropping them instead. How to you gauge the right amount of pressure to apply?
Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta
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Posted July 15 2015 - 8:24 AM
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http://www.livescien...gn=related_test
Sorry, I just came across that and felt it somewhat relevant XP
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Posted July 15 2015 - 8:54 AM
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With sets I have, as long as you hold the base and not the middle or tip of the tweezers, you literally cannot squish larvae, pupae, or workers. It is only when you tightly squeeze the middle or areas closer to the tip that the flexible metal has enough strength to harm.
For really bothersome eggs, I dampen the end of a toothpick and roll the eggs on it, and off in the new location. Eggs and larvae tend to stick to damp objects.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens
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Posted July 16 2015 - 12:27 AM
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For brood or pupae, I only use a soft brush.
Franz
if you find any mistakes, it's my autocorrection. it doesn't speak english.
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Posted July 16 2015 - 6:57 AM
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For brood or pupae, I only use a soft brush.
Not sure why I never thought of that. Do you have to wet the brush for them to stick?
Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta
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Posted July 16 2015 - 7:37 AM
For moving small brood I use a wooden barbeque screwer. The wood absorbs the water and becomes damp, allowing the brood to stick. Since it's fairly hard and smooth, it's easy to control exactly where I place them. The roundness allows you to spin it as you pick them up so you are sure not to crush any of the eggs. I can quickly move a whole pile of the tiniest eggs this way without damaging any of them.
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Posted July 16 2015 - 7:47 AM
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For moving small brood I use a wooden barbeque screwer. The wood absorbs the water and becomes damp, allowing the brood to stick. Since it's fairly hard and smooth, it's easy to control exactly where I place them. The roundness allows you to spin it as you pick them up so you are sure not to crush any of the eggs. I can quickly move a whole pile of the tiniest eggs this way without damaging any of them.
That's what I use for eggs too. I haven't tried it with larvae and pupae though, and probably won't work as well (especially for large or cocooned pupae).
Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta
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Posted July 16 2015 - 9:07 AM
It works great for me on any sized brood. I just use the large end for larger brood. If it's wet, they will stick to it.
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