14 replies to this topic

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I'm currently looking to find a Dysdera crocata woodlouse spider, though it is quite cold outside and I'm not sure they would still be out. They eat isopods and are a cool orange color, with large fangs to pierce the armor of their prey. I don't know how to care for a spider, but I'll try an AC test tube + test tube portal setup, as I know them to be subterranean, and not the web building type. I know nothing about spiders so if anyone here does that would be great.

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, October 20 2019 - 8:31 AM.

[ponerinecat]

They build webs to lay eggs, and sometimes surround their tunnels in webs. give them dirt to dig in.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Would a petri dish be good?

[ponerinecat]

yes

however they could be easily disturbed by opening it

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I caught a bald faced hornet queen (Dolichovespula maculata) in the woods today, under a stick. I would really like some advice on how to care for her.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

The hornet queen is now in a test tube setup, tucked away in the back of the fridge (Ask forgiveness not permission, right?). I don't know how appropriate a test tube is for this queen, but once she cools down to 40 or so degrees she probably won't try to escape.

[Manitobant]

A test tube will last until after hibernation.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Very interesting. I forgot a good wasp thread that could probably still apply for this situation. Let me see if i can find it

[TennesseeAnts]

I have two hibernating Dolichovespula maculata queens and a few Polistes queens.

[Mdrogun]

I have one Dolichovespula maculata queen currently hibernating. When should we take them out? She's been in hibernation for a solid 2-ish months now. I'm assuming their hibernation is almost identical to ants.

[TennesseeAnts]

Take her out once warm weather comes, and you see wild wasps out and about.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I've just taken her out of the fridge, and she is now in one of those butterfly raising mesh cage things that I had in my garage from a few years back. There are several big sticks propped up in there, a dish of honey for food and some flaky old wood and plant stems for paper making. If she doesn't use those, I'll add some cardboard from a package. Does anyone who has kept these before know what nest materials I should give this queen?

[RushmoreAnts]

I've just taken her out of the fridge, and she is now in one of those butterfly raising mesh cage things that I had in my garage from a few years back. There are several big sticks propped up in there, a dish of honey for food and some flaky old wood and plant stems for paper making. If she doesn't use those, I'll add some cardboard from a package. Does anyone who has kept these before know what nest materials I should give this queen?

Perhaps I'll try keeping wasps/hornets sometime. I'm pretty sure I saw a Polistes queen (I know it was Polistes, just not sure if it was a queen) on my deck a few times.

[NickAnter]

I wouldn't keep her in a mesh butterfly container. They chew wood into pulp. That means they can chew through thin mesh no problem.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I ended up releasing her-I don't think I really could have provided the proper care. I still might use this thread, though, as I've been considering keeping a blue death feigning beetle. These are apparently one of the best and easiest invertebrates to care for, as they like room temperature and don't require any insects or other complicated foods (some cat food and a carrot slice once or twice a week is pretty much ideal).