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Would this Alcohol Work for Ant Collecting?

Started By Nathant2131 , Mar 31 2017 4:26 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted March 31 2017 - 4:26 PM

Nathant2131

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I have this at our house and was wondering if it was appropiate for ant collecting in the field, prior to mounting the specimen.

 

https://www.amazon.c...customerReviews

 


Massachusetts Nuptial Flight Thread  | Massachusetts Anting Thread | My Ants

#2 Offline Miles - Posted March 31 2017 - 4:29 PM

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Yes. I generally use 70% for collecting. Higher percentages are better for preserving DNA but will leave your specimens more brittle and likely to become damaged when pinned/disturbed.


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PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab 

 

Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.

#3 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted March 31 2017 - 4:29 PM

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Yes. I generally use 70% for collecting. Higher percentages are better for preserving DNA but will leave your specimens more brittle and likely to become damaged when pinned/disturbed.

So you are saying lower percentage=less brittle?


Massachusetts Nuptial Flight Thread  | Massachusetts Anting Thread | My Ants

#4 Offline Miles - Posted March 31 2017 - 7:47 PM

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To a point, yes. My understanding is that the standard for collecting is 70% if no DNA is foreseen to be needed.


  • gcsnelling likes this

PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab 

 

Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.

#5 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted April 17 2017 - 9:03 AM

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Thanks.

Massachusetts Nuptial Flight Thread  | Massachusetts Anting Thread | My Ants

#6 Offline Jelly - Posted April 17 2017 - 9:53 AM

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If you want something in between, you can find 91% at most drug stores.


#7 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted April 17 2017 - 10:09 AM

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I'm not looking for DNA, just morphological characters.

Massachusetts Nuptial Flight Thread  | Massachusetts Anting Thread | My Ants

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