13 replies to this topic

[T.C.]

Hello, I was just watching this video. Would you guys see any issues with preserving a few ant species in germ x or hand sanitizer. Or would you recommend rubbing alcohol? Or some other method? I like the hand sanitizer method because it seems more interesting to me.

 

[Hunter]

it works i have tried it

[Chicken_eater100]

i would be more worried about the rubbing alcohol having the ants float to the top.  but yes, the rubbing/isopropyl alcohol will probably work.

[Hunter]

does he know if you put the ant in upside down there is no bubbles

[VoidElecent]

Hand sanitizer is 70-80% ethanol, which is what I preserve specimens in. I don't see why it wouldn't work!

[T.C.]

i would be more worried about the rubbing alcohol having the ants float to the top.  but yes, the rubbing/isopropyl alcohol will probably work.

That's why I don't like rubbing alcohol. They float to the top. Hand sanitizer is thick enough to hold them in place.

 

Hand sanitizer is 70-80% ethanol, which is what I preserve specimens in. I don't see why it wouldn't work!

Yeah, I suppose. I was just worried about if additives in the hand sanitizer would cause issues. I am used to pinning my bugs.

[FeedTheAnts]

I've done this a lot with a lot of different bugs(collecting insects was something i was very into a few years ago), nearly every time I did it I had a lot of problems with the hand sanitizer getting cloudy. I even sealed all the jars.

[gcsnelling]

As long as the specimen was not allowed to dry out before going into the alcohol they will not float.

[Connectimyrmex]

does he know if you put the ant in upside down there is no bubbles

Turning the ant upside down does not work. Most hairy ant species have air bubbles stick to their fur. Air bubbles can also stick to the antennae, mandibles, and even the interior of the gaster.

Edited by Connectimyrmex, November 8 2017 - 3:38 PM.

[T.C.]

Ok, so apparently it's more common than I thought. It is the same method as preserving them in alcohol. However I am used to pinning. So I have two questions.

 

After they are dead, do I need to do anything. Dry them out or anything?

 

Also can the larvae be inserted with them? Do they require anything prior to being preserved?

[Chicken_eater100]

Ok, so apparently it's more common than I thought. It is the same method as preserving them in alcohol. However I am used to pinning. So I have two questions.
 
After they are dead, do I need to do anything. Dry them out or anything?
 
Also can the larvae be inserted with them? Do they require anything prior to being preserved?

as far as I know, just throw them in, larva and all

[jsCoder]

What is material\gel in this video? (don't understanding english speech yet )

[T.C.]

What is material\gel in this video? (don't understanding english speech yet )

It's hand sanitizer?

[Hunter]

 

does he know if you put the ant in upside down there is no bubbles

Turning the ant upside down does not work. Most hairy ant species have air bubbles stick to their fur. Air bubbles can also stick to the antennae, mandibles, and even the interior of the gaster.

 

it has worked for me