13 replies to this topic

[prettycode]

Anyone try one of these, are a similar one?

 

http://www.amazon.co...t/dp/B00VQL2A3M

 

Looks like a great way to catch the sneaky little gals/guys.

 

Some reviews say poor suction though.

[BugFinder]

I bought it.  I'll let you know how I like it when it arrives.

[stuhrike]

I was kind of wondering what kind of aspirators/vacs people use on here and it seemed like a lot of people build their own and use their own suction (mouth).  
I actually bought this keyboard vacuum and I'm going to make a similar setup to what you would see in bioquip's designs.
 

The reason why I chose this vacuum was because it has a flap that some people removed for more suction power (reviews).  
It's horrible if you remove this flap to use as an actual vacuum since it prevents dust from going into the wrong place but as a way to suck up bugs, I think it'd be fine to remove the flap.

Edited by stuhrike, July 27 2015 - 7:27 PM.

[BugFinder]

I have this keyboard vac.  I don't really like it, but it's working ok until I find something else I like better.

[stuhrike]

I have this keyboard vac.  I don't really like it, but it's working ok until I find something else I like better.

 

Oh, that was the first vac I saw but the reviews made me go with another one.

[prettycode]

This would really save me a lot of time if it can suck up a running ant!

 

Right now I chase them around with a ziplock and try to hold down the ziplock opening in front of where the ant is running. Not the best strategy. 

[Gregory2455]

This would really save me a lot of time if it can suck up a running ant!

 

Right now I chase them around with a ziplock and try to hold down the ziplock opening in front of where the ant is running. Not the best strategy. 

You can also get an aspirator from bioquip or a related website.

[prettycode]

I got one of these and found a great use for it: vacuuming up garbage from the outworld.

 

The green thing is a straw. The vacuum strength gets very low through the straw but is strong enough to pick up outworld debris. And because it's relatively weak and only sucks from that tiny straw hole/opening, it's super easy to avoid accidentally sucking up any ants.

 

Another benefit of the straw is I can sneak it into the outworld from two feet away, without the ants even noticing. They don't freak out at all. Not like when you reach in with your hands or tweezers. The motor is far enough away and quiet enough that it's not a concern for the ants either.

 

(Hairy toes for scale.)

 

[Crystals]

I have a picture of my dustbuster aspirator in this thread: http://www.formicult...-foraging-area/

[prettycode]

Oh, another important note: you can't actually use this to catch ants. Bugs the size of ants will surely be mortally maimed when they're sucked through the tube.

 

See the black butt, where you grip? On that end of the tube, there're are holes over the plastic blades that the motor spins to create suction. These holes wouldn't be big enough for a bee or pea to fit through, but are big enough that a BB (like from a BB gun) might fit. Definitely ants would.

 

Edit: you could probably put mesh over said holes, but I fear it would decrease the sucking power too much down at the straw's end, rending it vacuumless.

Edited by prettycode, September 4 2015 - 1:55 PM.

[prettycode]

I have a picture of my dustbuster aspirator in this thread: http://www.formicult...-foraging-area/

 

Excellent! I like it! Great all-around thread, too! Looks like some other great ideas to work with!

[NightsWebs]

I bought my aspirator from Roses Entomology www.roseentomology.com its super nice and you can even buy a filter so you don't eat a bunch of particles. 

[Billy]

Top tip - don't use aspirators to collect ants that like to spray formic acid. I speak from experience.

[BrittonLS]

Top tip - don't use aspirators to collect ants that like to spray formic acid. I speak from experience.

Yuuuuuuuuuup!

Lol, some Camponotus sayi were panicking and one was attacking in the aspirator I had them in and the next breath I took was filled with really really sour air.