61 replies to this topic

[CatsnAnts]

The eggs should literally be hatching ANY day now, they’ve grown in size as well as in number! I’m not really too worried anymore about checking up on my termites, they seem pretty chill even when in light, lol. Also, my other newer termite pair seems to have settled down and hopefully should be laying eggs soon.

[NickAnter]

My parents will let me keep all Camponotus, but not termites or fire ants.  Anyway, really good job on these, on getting them to lay!

[CatsnAnts]

My parents will let me keep all Camponotus, but not termites or fire ants. Anyway, really good job on these, on getting them to lay!

Thank you! Ya, “technically” I’m not supposed to be keeping termites OR Camponotus, but what my parents don’t know won’t kill them . Plus, these termites are subterranean which means they aren’t the “eat your whole house” kind. My parents wouldn’t see it that way though, so I just point to my termites and say “look, ants”.

[ponerinecat]

Very few termites actually have the potential to destroy houses.

[CatsnAnts]

Very few termites actually have the potential to destroy houses.

Good to know! I was pretty worried at the start of keeping these, but I’m positive now that I have nothing to worry about.

[Nare]

Technically these are the eat your house kind, but they're incapable of eating your house from the inside. They've gotta be nested outside in soil, from where they make their way in and do damage. So no, a colony of these inside your house is not a threat.

[CatsnAnts]

Technically these are the eat your house kind, but they're incapable of eating your house from the inside. They've gotta be nested outside in soil, from where they make their way in and do damage. So no, a colony of these inside your house is not a threat.

Also glad to hear that! Thank you!

Might as well do an update in saying that the termite eggs from the first colony have definitely grown in size and are turning white. Oh it’s soooo close till I get my first nymph!

As for the second colony, the pair definitely has drilled a bunch of holes in the wood, but no signs of them laying eggs yet. When I check on them, they are most often on the glass of the test tube, like my first colony.

[CatsnAnts]

YEEEE The nymphs have arrived!! I looked in on them just now and saw two of the eggs were stuck to the ceiling with an odd shape, turned out, they had hatched! They have two nymphs and about 17 more on the way! I’m so excited that they actually made it this far! I’ll get pictures when they get more workers.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 20 2019 - 2:44 PM.

[CatsnAnts]

Here it is, PICTURES! So far, 4 nymphs have hatched, and they are SO FLIPPING CUTE. Take a look:





Sorry, your gonna have to look pretty hard against the cotton to see some of them.

[CatsnAnts]

AND, I just checked on my other termite colony (a different species, is almost positive) and they have 4 eggs, against the glass too! That would be awesome to have 2 termite colonies so maybe I could use 1 or both as feeders! Or I could just keep them safe like any other ant colony because of how cool they are.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 23 2019 - 2:01 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Nice termites! Sadly I don't have those where I live.

[TennesseeAnts]

I'm getting ready to capture a mature termite colony with my new vacuum aspirator, inspired by your design. I just cleaned my design up a bit. Same concept.

[CatsnAnts]

I'm getting ready to capture a mature termite colony with my new vacuum aspirator, inspired by your design. I just cleaned my design up a bit. Same concept.

That’s great! I’d love if someone else kept termites besides Nare and I!

[Nare]

Nice termites! Sadly I don't have those where I live.

There are actually termites in Wisconsin, and their prescence is decently well documented. I believe they're present in Sheboygun and Janesville, so you might have to drive a bit if you wanted to find some. But they're present. You can find more information in a paper by G. R. Esenther from 1969, titled "Termites in Wisconsin". If you're interested, I can provide more information about Reticulitermes in their northern range, and some personal experience.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Thanks, if I ever stumbled across a colony I would most likely try to keep them.

[CatsnAnts]

Also, does anybody know what this species might be (the one in the pictures)?

[TennesseeAnts]

Some sort of subterranean termite. They are the only termite I see.

Nare will be able to give you the species.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, June 25 2019 - 5:20 AM.

[CatsnAnts]

They are now up to 7 nymphs with many more on the way! I think they might have laid more eggs.

[Nare]

Not sure which state you're in (assuming you're in the states), but they look like my Reticulitermes flavipes alates, so I assume that's the species.

 

EDIT: Actually, you can see their yellow feet, which is how they get their name.

Edited by Nare, June 27 2019 - 11:08 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

He's in Indiana.