Now here’s a well kept secret:
Do you know about fluon, the slippery white material that is essential to keep ants where you want them (at least as much as possible)?
It is available at that old standby of insect supplies, BioQuip as
Insect-A-Slip Insect Barrier – Fluon
It isn’t cheap, but you don’t need very much.
Yeah BioQuip!!!
I haven’t been impressed with Fluon, which I tried using in my tiger beetle terraria in an attempt to keep prey insects from crawling up the sides – somehow they seem to be able to breach the 1″ wide barrier with regularity. I’ve had to resort to placing fine-mesh screens on top of the terraria under the vented lid. It’s hard to imagine I’m “doing it wrong” – any ideas?
Having just read Walter Tschinkel’s ode to Fluon in his Fire Ants book, I know I’m not the only one who has had success with it.
Two things come to mind:
1. Moisture, such as condensation, is known to make Fluon lose its slipperiness.
2. Perhaps there is something about the tarsi of the prey that can override the Fluon -in a way that ants aren’t capable of. What are their feet like? (I remember Tom Eisner’s photos of the incredible Palmetto beetle tarsi in For Love of Insects.)
In both cases, perhaps a light dusting of talc might solve the problem? A wider band?
Anyone else have any ideas?
Are you using ants for prey?
Oh yes, the Fluon bottle recommends the band be 2-4 inches wide.