6 replies to this topic

[AntswerMe]

I have caught many queen ants both in and out of pools, and have wondered what long exposure to chlorinated water could do do ants. When I collect queens from chlorinated pools, I have always immediately rinsed them gently in fresh water to rid them of any chemicals they may have been exposed to. Would these pool-caught queens be at a greater risk of death if not rinsed in fresh water?

[ultraex2]

I don't think so - I've caught a good amount of queens from the pool and don't rinse them at all.  None of the queens that I've collected from the pool have died so I don't think it hurts them too much.  They just get a bit lethargic at first.

[FeedTheAnts]

I don't think so - I've caught a good amount of queens from the pool and don't rinse them at all.  None of the queens that I've collected from the pool have died so I don't think it hurts them too much.  They just get a bit lethargic at first.

I agree, I catch a lot of queens out of the pool and they are just as healthy as queens caught on the ground. I don't even rinse them, but you might want to do that if your worried. 

[VoidElecent]

 

I don't think so - I've caught a good amount of queens from the pool and don't rinse them at all.  None of the queens that I've collected from the pool have died so I don't think it hurts them too much.  They just get a bit lethargic at first.

I agree, I catch a lot of queens out of the pool and they are just as healthy as queens caught on the ground. I don't even rinse them, but you might want to do that if your worried. 

 

 

Same here. I'm afraid to rinse them, I try to dry them off as soon as possible to limit their exposure to unnecessary excess water.

[Connectimyrmex]

From other posts, I've seen that some queens die after chlorine exposure (such as anergates and other fragile species). From personal experience, I also know that Ochetellus queens can't stand chlorine. 

[AntsCalifornia]

I personally have checked the pool every night and morning, and know that 12 hours in the pool will kill them. I don't rinse my queens when I catch them, and most survive and do fine. I say over 6 hours, and the queen dies from my experience, but I may be wrong.

[T.C.]

There was a double of this thread. On the other one, II wrote...

"I've caught many queens in pools including our own and I would never rinse them. Never had an issue. Chlorine levels in pools isn't really all that high. It takes long term exposure to see even the slightest affects. I used to drink our pool water as a kid (I was somewhat dumb) and even with it being inside me it wouldn't harm me. It only takes a few minutes for an
ant to drown. So if it is still alive when you find it, it hasn't been exposed to the chlorine for very long and should be just fine. "