As the title says. I've used that method to collect scorpions and spiders with mixed success. Will it work for ants?
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Can I collect an ant colony by flooding it?
Started By
kellakk
, Jan 22 2015 5:59 PM
10 replies to this topic
#1
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Posted January 22 2015 - 5:59 PM
kellakk
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Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis
Novomessor cockerelli
Pogonomyrmex montanus
Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Manica bradleyi
#2
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Posted January 22 2015 - 6:13 PM
LAnt
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A large colony will probably just get you a lot of angry ants crawling up your legs
#3
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Posted January 22 2015 - 6:19 PM
dean_k
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Solenopsis invicta is probably the only one that will come out when their nest is flooded. All other ants will probably drown.
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#4
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Posted January 22 2015 - 7:48 PM
Crystals
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It varies by species. Also varies by how fast you flood them.
Solenopsis invicta and Linepithema humile evacuate fast in a flood situation. Some desert species are known for refusing to move and simply drowning. Other species may take 4-10 days to decide to move, such as Formica.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens
#5
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Posted January 22 2015 - 8:44 PM
Chromerust
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You're only going to end up killing tons of ants in the colony and then feel terrible about it. Water and ants don't mix.
#6
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Posted January 22 2015 - 8:49 PM
Alza
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List of ants I've done it with: solenopsis xyloni, dorymyrmex insanus, linepithema humile, brachymyrmex patagonicus. Its successful
#7
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Posted January 22 2015 - 9:26 PM
Miles
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In short: No, it is not a feasible method.
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.
#8
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Posted January 22 2015 - 9:33 PM
drtrmiller
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I tried with Linepithema humile in a THA setup, and they would rather drown than leave their brick.
Solenopis invicta, as others have mentioned, would respond well to flooding. Most ants, however, will not.
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#9
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Posted January 22 2015 - 10:45 PM
kellakk
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That was a resounding NO. 
Ok then, I'll have to stick with pure digging if I ever decide to collect a colony.
Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis
Novomessor cockerelli
Pogonomyrmex montanus
Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Manica bradleyi
#10
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Posted January 23 2015 - 6:56 AM
Alza
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Wow ._.
#11
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Posted January 23 2015 - 7:11 AM
Crystals
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That was a resounding NO.
Flooding is not a good method.
Some colonies dig really deep, while a few only dig a few inches deep. Just do a bit of background research on the species, the deeper you have to dig, the more risk that you may accidentally injure the queen, or perhaps not even find her at all.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens
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