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Sampling ants with pitfall traps: Digging-in effects

Prélèvement de fourmis avec des pièges: effets de l'enfouissement

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Summary

Digging-in effects were recorded while using pitfall traps in a study of ants in Southern Australia. These effects consist of high catches immediately after traps are established which subsequently decline. They are most pronounced among ants with nests close, or accessible to traps, but catches of ants from more distant traps may show delayed digging-in effects. It is suggested that the digging-in effect can be reduced by placing pitfalls, inverted, for one week prior to operating them as traps.

Résumé

Les effets d'enfouissement ont été observés en utilisant des pièges au cours d'une étude des fourmis du Sud australien. Ces effets consistent en de nombreuses captures, aussitôt après la mise en place des pièges, suivis d'une réduction de ce nombre. Ils sont plus marqués chez les fourmis dont les nids sont proches ou accessibles par rapport aux pièges, mais des captures de fourmis dans des pièges plus éloignés peuvent présenter des effets retardés. Il est suggéré que l'effet d'enfouissement peut être réduit en plaçant les trappes renversées une semaine avant de les utiliser comme pièges.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Soils, CSIRO, 5064, Glen Osmond, South Australia

    P. J. M. Greenslade

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  1. P. J. M. Greenslade
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Greenslade, P.J.M. Sampling ants with pitfall traps: Digging-in effects. Ins. Soc 20, 343–353 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226087

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