Ant anesthesia?

Posts about AC Gear Packs and Starter Kits

Moderator: ooper01

Post Reply
AntNoob1
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:56 pm
Location: NC

Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34130Post AntNoob1
Thu Feb 22, 2018 2:04 pm

I found two large black ants in my back yard in North Carolina and I want to identify with my little identification chart I got from Bug-Fest last year, but they wont sit still! but I don't want to kill them, so I want to try to make them sleep by putting them in the freezer for 2.5 hours. This may work because scientists who work on flies need them to calm down without them dying so they put them in the freezer to slow their metabolism. Tell me your opinions and ideas!

Hitch3
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:36 am

Re: Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34138Post Hitch3
Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:05 pm

Oh god 2.5 hours will kill them straight out.

I put my ants in the freezer for maybe 2 minutes maximum. And it changes depending on the size of the ant. Camponotus (medium sized ants) will go into hibernation in maybe 1 minute and a half but smaller ants will freeze in maybe 30 seconds.

Just put them in the freezer and check every 30 seconds. As soon as she has crumpled and is still, just take her out and do your observing. :)

User avatar
idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34144Post idahoantgirl
Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:28 pm

ack! I wouldn't recommend the freezer. Fridge is better. It will take longer for them to slow down, but you wont risk killing them
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

Hitch3
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:36 am

Re: Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34148Post Hitch3
Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:43 pm

Oh yeah, that would probably be a better way. I guess I’m just a bit impatient :lol:

AntNoob1
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:56 pm
Location: NC

Re: Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34163Post AntNoob1
Fri Feb 23, 2018 3:53 pm

OK great ideas guys, maby we can all experiment and figure out our times for certian species and post the species and the time and ill make a chart and post it to the public!!!! :D

AntNoob1
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:56 pm
Location: NC

Re: Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34165Post AntNoob1
Fri Feb 23, 2018 3:54 pm

oh, and I think they are Asian needle ants.

Hitch3
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:36 am

Re: Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34266Post Hitch3
Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:45 pm

AntNoob1 wrote:
Fri Feb 23, 2018 3:53 pm
OK great ideas guys, maby we can all experiment and figure out our times for certian species and post the species and the time and ill make a chart and post it to the public!!!! :D

I think that would be great!

I’ll make a post now

Hitch3
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:36 am

Re: Ant anesthesia?

Post: # 34279Post Hitch3
Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:38 pm

Here it is.

http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=5548

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests