61 replies to this topic

[CatsnAnts]

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.

I was thinking that due to them being common here, Thxs!

[CatsnAnts]

Alright, just checked up on both of my termite colonies, and I figured out thy are both R. flavipes indeed. Colony number one is growing by the day in population. I think they have around 10 nymphs now. Here’s some pictures:







The other pair of R. falvipes is doing well with about 7 eggs. I can really see how much the first pair has expanded in comparison with the first. It’s kinda strange.

[CatsnAnts]

Both colonies are still doing good. My first colony has around 11 workers, and a lot of the nymphs are starting to molt and get larger. The egg pile has also not shrunk, it’s grown. I’m hoping this colony really takes off so I can start using some of the termites as food when my ants are in need (although it will probably be a little while yet).

My second termite colony has around 10 eggs and is doing well.

[CatsnAnts]

A lot of the termite nymphs in colony one are starting to darken a little bit. On another hand, colony two looks like it should be getting nymphs pretty soon.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Do termite nymphs do any work around the nest in the months before full grown workers develop?

[Nare]

Do termite nymphs do any work around the nest in the months before full grown workers develop?

Iirc they're pretty useless until after a few molts. If you google pictures of them, you'd understand why. They're pretty much eggs with legs, a head, and antennae. can't really do much, and are mainly carried around by older siblings/parents.

EDIT: I'm a doof, there are larvae in the pic above. Suffice to say they're about as useful as they look.

Edited by Nare, July 16 2019 - 5:50 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Yeah, now that I think about it, they probably don't even have the mouthparts to chew cellulose.

[CatsnAnts]

Second colony now has its first nymph!

I never really expected to get this far with either of my termite colonies, but what do you know.

[ponerinecat]

you are good at this. make my attempts seem very primitive.

[CatsnAnts]

you are good at this. make my attempts seem very primitive.

Thanks ! It’s mainly luck that it’s working! I’ll try and get some pictures later today, but both colonies are still flourishing!

[ForestDragon]

any updates?

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

yeah, looks really interesting! 

[CatsnAnts]

I’ll do an update here soon, but I might have to do something about my vision into the tube- I can’t really see them

[TennesseeAnts]

Update? My pairs have 2 or so dozen workers and nymphs with 2 soldiers each.

[RushmoreAnts]

School's almost over, so we'll probably see him soon enough. 

[ANTdrew]

Update? My pairs have 2 or so dozen workers and nymphs with 2 soldiers each.

Awesome. I plan to drink the tetmite keeping Kool-aid this year. I got my cardboard traps already set.

[Nare]

Update? My pairs have 2 or so dozen workers and nymphs with 2 soldiers each.

how old are your pairs? No sign of soldiers in my one pair, but they've started laying eggs again. I figured my termites would grow slow, but if yours already have soldiers and are from just last year, consider me impressed and envious.

[TennesseeAnts]

 

Update? My pairs have 2 or so dozen workers and nymphs with 2 soldiers each.

how old are your pairs? No sign of soldiers in my one pair, but they've started laying eggs again. I figured my termites would grow slow, but if yours already have soldiers and are from just last year, consider me impressed and envious.

 

Haha. I added the soldiers from my established colony.

[M_Ants]

Reviving this dead thread because I caught som Rets today. Can anyone explain the setup CatsnAnts used here? I don't entirely understand his explanation. 

Edited by M_Ants, January 31 2021 - 1:40 PM.

[Antkeeper01]

I agree can we please have an update?