16 replies to this topic

[ctantkeeper]

Apparently you can use diluted lemon juice to trigger a mass migration of ants from their original nest to another. If this works, it can be used to cause whole colonies to leave their nests and upon reaching the surface, be captured. Not sure if this works, but just wanted to post it and see what you guys think.

 

Here is the original video: 

[Kevin]

I have a small feeling that it's harmful to the ants...

[FSTP]

Hmm I wonder how much of this technique has to do with the emon and how much of it is just flooding the nest. I remember seeing ants moving their nest as a kid whenever a hose or sprinkler was left on to long and flooded the grass......

[Mdrogun]

I have a feeling this only worked because it looks like the ants are nesting in concrete which is a poor absorber of water. This colony also looks fairly small compared to what most people would find in the wild because they have no alates. While this might work in a few situations, I feel it would overall be unsuccessful.

[FSTP]

I just tried it.....

 

 

 

all I got were a bunch of workers of different sizes and larvae.... I used a respirator I made to collect the ants but I didn't get a queen. I put all the workers in the formicarium I just made so I can at least have a queen less colony to look at for awhile....

[Vendayn]

The ants in the video look just like Pheidole megacephala...so no surprise it works. He could have just used water for the same effect.

 

Its like Argentine ants evacuating their nest from a little water. Pheidole megacephala do the same thing. Solenopsis invicta react similarly too.

 

This wouldn't work on very many ants, and literally 99% of ants I find (that are native to California) don't respond this way.

 

They are just responding like they've been flooded (again, like Argentine ants and Solenopsis invicta), not because what ever mixture he made.

Edited by Vendayn, November 13 2016 - 5:56 PM.

[Alabama Anter]

If you have Solenopsis invicta dig them up with a shovel and put them  in a large bucket and flood them slowly. They will form their famous living raft and you can scoop em up! Don't get stung!!! Same for some Tapinoma species

[dspdrew]

I used a respirator I made to collect the ants but I didn't get a queen.

 

Do you mean aspirator?

[FSTP]

 

I used a respirator I made to collect the ants but I didn't get a queen.

 

Do you mean aspirator?

 

 

 

 

 

LOL, yes an aspirator.... however I did almost respirate one, it was not pleasant. Luckily it was one of the tiny workers and not one of the larger majors.

[ctantkeeper]

 

 

I used a respirator I made to collect the ants but I didn't get a queen.

 

Do you mean aspirator?

 

 

 

 

 

LOL, yes an aspirator.... however I did almost respirate one, it was not pleasant. Luckily it was one of the tiny workers and not one of the larger majors.

 

definitely not the best collecting strategy lol

[FSTP]

No not at all! I need to place a filter on the inlet side of the tubing so that doesn't happen again. lol

[SamKeepsAnts]

if u do this to argentine ants u can get like 10 queens per cup of water 

[T.C.]

I honestly don't believe that works.

[Loops117]

If you have Solenopsis invicta dig them up with a shovel and put them  in a large bucket and flood them slowly. They will form their famous living raft and you can scoop em up! Don't get stung!!! Same for some Tapinoma species

 

This is exactly how i caught my T.sessile colony.

[gcsnelling]

I honestly don't believe that works.

It may not work for all species it will work very well for agentines.

[MrUrrutia]

[antgenius123]

I've seen this. You have to inject a considerable amount of lemon water though, or else it won't reach the queen. It works best around concrete areas, but soil will obviously absorb everything.