11 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

I have found a pretty good way to get decent photos of live ant specimens. I just found the smallest crystal clear plastic box I could at the Container Store here in the States. I glued some black felt in the bottom of it so the ants could keep from sliding around when positioning it.

 

 

 

I just put the ant in the box and wait for it to finally calm down and stand still. After this, I can usually move the box around to get pictures at any angle I want.

[casualfriday]

That's not a bad idea. Might have to try that.

[Mercutia]

Haha, too bad you can't just cool them down like I can. =)

 

I just pop them in the fridge for a few minutes and snap pictures.

 

(PLEASE DON'T DO THIS IF YOU LIVE IN WARMER CLIMATES WHERE ANTS DON'T HIBERNATE)

[dspdrew]

You can cool them down where I am, and we live in warmer climate; I do it sometimes. There are plenty times through out the year here where it gets quite a few degrees below freezing. Now if you're talking about some place in the tropics, then okay, yeah haha.

[Mercutia]

If you live in a climate where it freezes, you do not live in a warmer climate in my books. xD

 

Wouldn't they hibernate if the temp goes below freezing?

[dspdrew]

If we go below freezing, it's normally only for a few hours out of the day, and usually only lasts a few days or possibly a couple weeks. I think a lot of people would disagree with you about the climate of Southern California haha.

[Mercutia]

So I'd still need a jacket to live in Cali? I might have to rethink moving there.

[dspdrew]

Yup. There are times when you need one.

[ParaStatic]

Was below zero here for like 3 months this past winter. lmao....

[dspdrew]

No thanks.

[Anhzor]

It does get freaking cold over the winter here in the desert which explains why we had those Acromyrmex for over a month alive inside the refridgerator.

Edited by Anhzor, August 2 2014 - 10:43 PM.

[cpman]

Wouldn't they hibernate if the temp goes below freezing?

 

Not necessarily. We get below freezing something like 15 or 20 times a year here in Central Texas, and some of our ants don't hibernate (mostly imported ones like Solenopsis invicta, but a handful of natives too). It's not below freezing for very long, the freezes we do have aren't super cold, and there are a good number of days over 70 degrees in the winter.

 

On many winter days, you do see ants out and about -- not as many as you would on a day in the rest of the year, but it's not insignificant.

Edited by cpman, June 30 2017 - 12:14 PM.