Meat Ant Field Trip - October 2010

October 18, 2010 10:00 by David

How do you collect ants? This is something that we have to consider approximately every 6-12 months with our Meat Ant population for the Bugs Alive! display here at Melbourne Museum.

So how do we do it? Pick them up one by one? Well that may take some time. Lie down on the ground and cover yourself in Honey? Good idea but it could get a little sticky. We’ve found the easiest and most efficient way to do this is by using a good old dust buster. Simply pull your socks up over the bottom of your pants, place the dust buster over the entrance to their holes, start sucking them up and then transfer them to a tub with slippery sides. Whilst doing all this you have to stomp your feet to try and stop them from crawling up you!!! Sound complicated? Not really, the biggest issue is ignoring the funny looks you get from passing vehicles.

Next time your at the Museum - drop in and have a look.