The expense of the more powerful vacs I am using is well offset by the numbers of ants I can gather with them. I not only can supply my dozen HLs with about 800-1000 per day, but sell the surplus. One of those $50 vacs can pay for itself in one outing, and I plan on having a charger bank full of them in the trunk soon. Like I said, for the average person it may be a bit much, but it can also quickly get you enough ants to store for a month if your just keeping one HL.

I typically visit 30 colonies in an outing and spend about 2 minutes average at each. The Dirt Devil 15.6 volt usually holds up the whole way. Average yield is 500 per colony. Some yield more, but I tend to halt at 1000 per colony if I have visited it recently or it is not a visibly large colony. If there is not much activity or the yield not strong within the first minute, I quickly move a few yards to the next. Sometimes I place the crevice tool over the top for a few seconds, causing the suction to encourage workers to get stirred up and come out, much like the blowing method that some use.

The pitfall method would be too time consuming here in this rock and soil and pre-dug holes would not remain long for subsequent visits. The Pogos here also do not always use defined foraging trails, or frequently change trails, and I try to avoid capturing workers carrying goods.

I had about 200 colonies mapped out when I decided to stop counting. About 80% of what I'm visiting are highly active right now, and I'm getting calls from landowners to come thin out the ants. Highest temp so far yesterday ( 91F ). Still not much herp activity yet.





-----
freewebs.com/wichitafallsreptilerescue

groups.yahoo.com/group/HornedLizards

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]