Tips for mounting Ants?

[Jason Green]

Hi all

I have a colony of what I strongly believe to be the Turf Ant, Tetramorium caespitum (...actually memorised the spelling ) in the garden, though microscopic analysis should help with certainty - a species that may be found in residential settings though is more often associated with coastal areas and heathland.

I found a dead individual today - I suspect this year's males die off and leave the queen to over-winter and set up a new colony the following spring, like wasps? Anyway, I currently have it in a home-made relaxing chamber. Are there any tips anyone can impart for mounting ants before I begin tomorrow? I only have the one, this species I presume is a less common garden one and so mistakes could be costly!

Thanks!

Take care,

Jason

[ChrisR]

If it was me, I'd glue it sideways onto a card ... working on the principle that if you glue the ant flat on the card (as it would stand normally) then you're almost guaranteed to need a feature on the ventral surface! At least you have 2 sides on an insect so obscuring one will still leave you one exposed side

[Jason Green]

Hi Chris,

Thanks. I took it out the relaxing chamber after 16hrs, and yes - the legs were...fairly, easy to manipulate. After several seconds though, they kept trying to close in to the thorax again - you know, one closes, so you extend it again - and the next one then starts to close; vicious circle stuff!

Pretty difficult all told, though. See the finished product.

29/10/2009

Almost certainly Tetramorium caespitum...
...c.1hr's work

As far as I can see, the two nodes by the petiole and spur on the front legs (highlight 2) , as well as size, colour and grooved head are distinctive - so no need for ventral inspection?

The three legs on the left side had distended by the femur back onto the coxa - but by the time I'd realised it was already glued down! Fortunately the three on the right were OK. However, upon looking at the whole thing from a sideways angle once it was dry - I saw the glued-down gaster had actually seperated from the post-petiole! (highlight 1)

I left it in the R/C for 16hrs - would 24 have been better, or could that have made it too supple + equally breakable?

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I left it in the R/C for 16hrs - would 24 have been better, or could that have made it too supple + equally breakable?

Not really - 24-hours could be fine - you just have to keep an eye on it and take it out before there is any trace of mould etc

[Beekeeper]

Mounting ants ! May i suggest a bucket of cold water.


Sorry to but in on your thread Jason but i just couldnt resist that.

Ian

[Jason Green]

...ah, that's better - you get quite warm concentrating on the job

[No.9 Spider]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

Mounting ants ! May i suggest a bucket of cold water.


Sorry to but in on your thread Jason but i just couldnt resist that.

Ian

Tips on mounting Ants? I was going to suggest very gently and from behind?

I thought they were usually pinned thru' the Thorax? May be wrong and as usual I have a book with the info but am not at home.


No.9 Spider

[Jason Green]

Very gently from behind...

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by No.9 Spider

Tips on mounting Ants? I was going to suggest very gently and from behind?

I thought they were usually pinned thru' the Thorax? May be wrong and as usual I have a book with the info but am not at home.


No.9 Spider

What more can i add to that

Ian

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by No.9 Spider

I thought they were usually pinned thru' the Thorax? May be wrong and as usual I have a book with the info but am not at home.

Small stuff like ants would normally be glues to card points, I think - it does less damage to the bits you need to see for keying and you can always unglue them by dissolving off the glue

Saying that, I hate gluing stuff - it gets a bit messy and the glue keeps drying before you get the ant or wasp onto it I'd cheat and use a very fine micro-pin diagonally through the thorax and mount it on a foam stage