Ant anesthesia?
Moderator: ooper01
Ant anesthesia?
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!
Re: Ant anesthesia?
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.
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.
- idahoantgirl
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Re: Ant anesthesia?
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
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
Re: Ant anesthesia?
Oh yeah, that would probably be a better way. I guess I’m just a bit impatient
Re: Ant anesthesia?
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!!!!
Re: Ant anesthesia?
oh, and I think they are Asian needle ants.
Re: Ant anesthesia?
Here it is.
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=5548
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=5548
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