Insect Aspirator: Safely Capture Queen Ants

Product Description

Insect Aspirator for Sale! An insect aspirator is a tool used by entomologists and collectors to catch and handle delicate insects without harming them. The following image labels the main parts of an aspirator.

The aspirator includes a mouth piece, a metal insect capture tube, and a collection vial.

Mouth Piece: To initiate suction, position the mouthpiece against your lips and inhale gently. The intensity of suction can be adjusted by modulating the force of inhalation.

Insect Capture Tube: Place the open end of the tube near the target insect. Suction generated by drawing air through the mouthpiece pulls the insect into the tube and toward the collection vial.

Collection Vial: Captured insects are drawn into the collection vial, which can be detached and sealed with a cap for storage.

Included

• Insect Aspirator
• Two collection vials including caps

Dust and Mold Filter (Optional Purchase)

We did some research on filters to prevent inhalation of dust particles and found a really good option — the Whatman 6723-5000 HEPA-Vent Filter. This filter prevents inhaling particles larger than 0.3 microns Not only does it keep dust out, it also prevents inhalation of Coccidioides spores (generally 2-5 microns), which is the mold that causes Valley Fever. We use the filter when capturing non formic-acid spraying ants and it works extremely well. It does fill up, however and it won’t last forever but we do expect it to last the season.

Safety

Avoid using aspirators with ant species that spray formic acid, as inhaling the acid can be harmful to your lungs. Ants known for spraying formic acid include Camponotus, Myrmecocystus, and Formica. Instead, use your fingers or an ant vacuum for handling these species. If you accidentally capture a formic acid-spraying ant with an aspirator, you’ll notice immediately—it has a strong smell similar to vinegar.