When do you use an inoculating needle instead of a loop?

When do you use an inoculating needle instead of a loop?

You should use an inoculating needle when making smears from solid media because of the solid’s density. The smaller areas are denser, so it is easier to retrieve these specimens using an inoculating needle. Why use a needle instead of an inoculating loop?
How is the inoculum needle used in a culture?
The inoculum is commonly inoculated to broth cultures, slant cultures, plate cultures, and stab cultures. An inoculation needle is used in inoculating a sterile broth culture. Flaming the open end of the broth will keep the it sterile.
How does an inoculating needle work in a petri dish?
This inoculating needle has a plastic handle with nichrome wire loop to transfer bacteria from a culture to a petri dish. Sterilize the loop between transfers using a flame and heating the loop until it glows. Allow the loop to cool before inserting in the bacteria culture or the heat will kill the bacteria being transferred.