14 replies to this topic

[William. T]

See, I want a mature colony, and quickly. My Lasius are just too slow! Since I want to collect ants, is there any tips to safely get a mature wood nesting out? 

[Chromerust]

I only did this once and I simply brought the log home, cut it shorter and put it in my bath tub. Then just pulled the bark off to reveal the colony under it. I can't remember how I picked the ants out, I think I just used a paint stick and ran them up it one at a time and flicked them into a container.

[dspdrew]

Yeah it's best to use a large tub, or even a bathtub lined with fluon or talcum powder. That way you can work on it without any ants getting away.

[William. T]

Eh,  are there ways to extract ants in the field?

[Mercutia]

Camponotus are slow growers. Collecting in the field means you're going to lose a lot of the colony to the environment as they will scatter and run away. If you can find a way to bring the log they are in home, you can draw them out  by the tub method. I've found smoking them out works too.

[Chromerust]

Yup mine stayed in the log all the way home from the mountains and they stayed there until I cracked the log open the next morning

[William. T]

But what happens if you put the ants in a bucket or a Rubbermaid container with petroleum jelly?

[Crystals]

I have found that Camponotus walk right over petro jelly.  You need talc or fluon.

Even a small log can have a good sized colony.  I always find colonies when splitting firewood, and my neighbor finds lots in his carving wood.  I find that 2x4's if left on the ground often have a colony in them, or any good sized piece of wood on any open ground, or between trees.

A rubbermaid container will probably work well.  On a deck or in a garage provides a nice relaxing spot to extract them.

 

Keep in mind that if the area is heavily wooded, you may only have a satelitte colony.  The other hard thing about collecting in spring is that Camponotus overwinter their alates, so you will have lots of winged reproductives in there that sometimes decide that flying may be the best option.

[William. T]

Can Camponotus walk over Vaseline and cleaning alcohol? So any log with holes is a candidate?

[Chromerust]

Can Camponotus walk over Vaseline and cleaning alcohol? So any log with holes is a candidate?

In my opinion everything is useless except Talc and Fluon. I'd pull a small piece of bark off and look for brood that's always a good sign.

[Crystals]

Can Camponotus walk over Vaseline and cleaning alcohol? So any log with holes is a candidate?

Vaseline is a petro product - they cross it with ease.

Alcohol evaporates swiftly, usually within minutes.  Which is why it is mixed with talc, as it quickly evaporates leaving a powdery barrier that falls under the weight of an ant.  Some baby powders are 100% talc, but read the ingredients list to be sure.

Any log with holes is a good possibility.  Most of the logs I find them in don't have bark, or it isn't easily peeled.  I have used the claw of a hammer to pull logs apart.  I find firewood piles very good, as the pieces are already pretty small.

[William. T]

Baby paper can work?

[William. T]

Can you use a hammer to break apart logs? Other than brood, are there other signs of a queen?

[Chromerust]

I guess it all depends on the type of log. There really isn't any secret sure thing method. Every situation is different and mostly comes down to a lot of luck more than anything else. What you want to do is one of the hardest ways to get ants I can think of. You shouldn't go trashing a ton of nests looking for queens. I found my Camponotus colony on the first try because I became very familiar with their nesting habits first and spotted the perfect opportunity from experience. Nuptial flights are starting, you will find queens for sure if you want it bad enough.

[William. T]

Oh. I didn't want to smash the log apart. I wanted to use the other end to help peel apart the bark.