343 replies to this topic

[ponerinecat]

This is my journal of random stuff I'm currently raising.

 

Springtails

 

I have quite a few cultures of various types of these, with more being collected.

 

Most of these have relatively simple care, with the exception of those that live exclusively on wood. I am feeding them on yeast, pea powder, and in the case of wood dwelling ones, whatever they find growing on the wood. This is not all my springtails, I have many more, but they are either too small to photograph or too active. These include a small orange type with a white band on the abdomen, small wormlike white and black ones, blobby segmented pink and red ones, and more that I haven't spotted.I am hoping to get a variety of new types, including a giant purple variety the same size or larger than solenopsis molesta queens. The round purple one above is particularly enticing in that adults range from purple and blue to yellow, orange and red.

Edited by ponerinecat, December 14 2019 - 7:29 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Isopods

 

I have a few varieties at the moment, and am hoping to obtain more over time. 

 

Porcellionides sp.

relatively simple care, eat decaying vegetable matter and like bark. While these are common, they've been kept away by rain and I only have three.

 

Porcellio sp

These are absolute giants, one of the biggest isopods in California. They breed profusely and are very common at my school. I have already seen a pair mating. Feed on decaying plants and prefer soil.

 

Unidentified Oniscidea

I have no idea what these little beauties are, I have only found three individuals under bark or decaying wood and have only managed to capture three. I am hoping to catch more.

 

Armadillium vulgare

 

These are very easy to care for and find.

 

Armadillium vulgare morph

 

 

Found these beauties at school. 

Edited by ponerinecat, December 25 2019 - 3:17 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Millipedes 

 

I have a decent collection, but wish to find more. Especially on the lookout for our native bioluminescent millipede which I have seen in the past.

 

Unidentified

These are nice looking, but emit a very unpleasant odor. I've just thrown them in a container with leaves and they seem to be doing well.

 

Octoglena sp

These are by far my best millipedes and are very nice looking. Hard to find and care for, I still don't know what they eat but they are growing so I'm doing something right. By far the best thing about these is how insanely small their heads are. Those tiny black dots in front have to support those huge antennae while being covered with relatively oversized eyes.

 

Brachycibe cf rosea

 

Very nice looking, and very common. These feed solely on fungus and I have to resupply them every so often. These are very interesting in that they have parental care.

 

Brachycibe sp

 

These are my local orange species and have a much bigger black stripe. They have the same care and behaviors, but release a sticky residue that smells of orange peels and pine.

 

Unknown Polydesmidae

These beautiful millipedes produce minimal amounts of cyanide gas when handled. Smells strongly of chemicals and acid. 

 

Unidentified

Two species of large millipede. They are generalists and eat rotting leaves. Very fun to handle.

 

Comparism between both species of Brachycibe.

Edited by ponerinecat, December 9 2019 - 5:39 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Some other random things.

 

Darkling beetle

Scolopendra sp

Unidentified cryptopidae

Serradigitus gertchi ssp. striatus

Calisoga longitarsus

[ponerinecat]

Oh yeah, where I found thses. Most of them, the springtails, the unidentified woodlice, and a lot of others were found on rotting wood. The octoglena and brachycibe cf rosea were found on rotting pine logs. Other locations include under shallow rocks in a flat open area, some submerged boxes with water pipes, and under bushes.

[ANTdrew]

Nice collection here! Why call it trash (other than the fact that most are detritivores)?

[ponerinecat]

I got more springtails, including a new type. Also managed to find four more porcellionides sp. 

 

My earwigs with eggs.

 

[ponerinecat]

Nice collection here! Why call it trash (other than the fact that most are detritivores)?

 

Its not too exciting stuff, just a bunch of random inverts dumped together. Kind of a last resort rubbish pile of assorted arthropods. Not worthless, but kinda just there.

[FSTP]

IDK why but those ear wig eggs look extra tasty. I wonder if they would taste good. Like a snail egg.

[Martialis]

IDK why but those ear wig eggs look extra tasty. I wonder if they would taste good. Like a snail egg.

 

What?

[FSTP]

have you ever eaten garden snail eggs? They're delicious I had them when I went to france as a teenager. those earwig eegs looked similar and reminded me of them. 

[ponerinecat]

My search for random stuff continues, with me adding a new isopod to the list.

[Mettcollsuss]

Wow, those Brachycybe look really cool! 

[ponerinecat]

Someone identified my new isopods.

[ponerinecat]

Unidentified Chordeumatida

[CampoKing]

I would legit buy samples of your springtails, because I use them as housekeeping in my wood-based Camponotus habitats lol. I'm starting over with new colonies next year after moving to a new state

[ponerinecat]

The orbuthid springtails are growing

[ponerinecat]

New isopods!

 

Armadillium sp.

Found under bark

 

Armadillium sp

Found under rocks

Orbuthid springtail sp.

These like rocks rather than wood and their coloration is very nice. Dark purple with yellow patterns.

[ANTdrew]

Dude, you need to rename this journal.

[ponerinecat]

Dude, you need to rename this journal.

Better?