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Backlighting?

Started By Tkmalphurs , Aug 25 2019 4:45 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Tkmalphurs - Posted August 25 2019 - 4:45 PM

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LocationFlorida

I'm looking to get into black lighting, anyone have any tips? Also does anyone have a link to a decent priced one, or what do you use as your setup?

#2 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 25 2019 - 5:15 PM

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LocationOrange County, California

Tips: Stay out as long as you can, have lots of test tubes on hand, and don't stop trying. Also, make sure you are blacklighting on warm nights.

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).

#3 Offline Tkmalphurs - Posted August 25 2019 - 5:24 PM

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Tips: Stay out as long as you can, have lots of test tubes on hand, and don't stop trying. Also, make sure you are blacklighting on warm nights.

What blacklight do you use?

https://www.amazon.c...=gateway&sr=8-4

I'm looking to get this one will it work?

ant007 likes this

#4 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 25 2019 - 5:52 PM

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Yeah that would work. I use a UV floodlight. Not sure exactly which one.

ant007 likes this

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:

#5 Offline Tkmalphurs - Posted August 25 2019 - 6:08 PM

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LocationFlorida

Do you know of a wall plug with ground to battery adapter I could use to make it portable?

ant007 likes this

#6 Offline gcsnelling - Posted August 26 2019 - 2:24 AM

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Just about everyplace, walmart, etc sell inverters you can plug into your cigarette lighter which would work fine for plug ins. I use them all the time.

ant007 likes this

#7 Offline Major - Posted August 26 2019 - 2:33 AM

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LocationRochester, New York

Just connect it to your car. Easy and portable. But ends up getting tricky when going to roadless areas, so may want to invest in a very long weather proof heavy duty extension cable. Also drape a white sheet under the black light because it helps reflect the blacklight and makes it easier to see queens. And with the black light I add a couple flashlights. Good luck!

ant007 likes this

My Ants For Sale

My Ant Journal

#8 Offline Tkmalphurs - Posted August 26 2019 - 3:57 AM

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One more question. Since I don’t have a car and I want to make this really portable and able to go on small hike into forests would alligator clips work if I connected them to each side of the plug then to the battery?