343 replies to this topic

[ponerinecat]

Small update. The Ortholasma individual has been identified as pictipes and I also found 2 more, of a different sp in the same genus, levipes. They look roughly the same but a darker color and have less noticeable exoskeleton spike thingies. the camel crickets are apparently not camel crickets but an even larger related genus. And the isopods are breeding just as much as ever, with the Ligium starting to produce as well even after the die off.

[ponerinecat]

Brachycibe were moved to a new setup after a large die off occurred.

 

 

Ligidium manca.

 

 

 

Giant neanurids.

 

 

 

Some native cockroach nymphs, they live in the grass here.

 

 

 

And a pseudoscorpion.

 

Ill most likely begin selling some of these after this pandemic is pretty much over.

[ANTdrew]

Wow! That pseudoscorpion is awesome!
Update on my moldy springtail box: they weren’t harmed in any way. On the contrary, there are more than ever! I planted a bunch of new spring beauty seeds in the box, too.

Edited by ANTdrew, May 21 2020 - 7:18 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Wow! That pseudoscorpion is awesome!
Update on my moldy springtail box: they weren’t harmed in any way. On the contrary, there are more than ever! I planted a bunch of new spring beauty seeds in the box, too.

That's good, they may be eating the mold. One of my own springtail boxes is just a box of mold atm because they use it as food.

Edited by ponerinecat, May 21 2020 - 7:25 AM.

[ANTdrew]

They must be eating it because there’s hardly any mold left. I moistened the box and sprinkled some nutritional yeast in for more food.

[ponerinecat]

No pics, but some news. All the ligium and that one other aquatic isopod sp have died. I suspect it was form contamination of their spray bottle. I'll have to try again, but be extremely cleen about things... also moved my Solenopsis xyloni and Camponotus hyatti into jar terrariums.

[ponerinecat]

Armadillidium spp.

 

 

 

Tomocerus sp.

As seen here when compared to the moss, these are true giants.

 

Not to mention the individual shown here is half the size of fully grown adults.

[ponerinecat]

More isopods incoming! Armadillidium granulatum, nasatum peach, Cubaris murina, and Venezillo parvus.

[ANTdrew]

My springtail culture is thriving. I’d like to ID what I have in there, at least the big gray ones.

[ponerinecat]

My springtail culture is thriving. I’d like to ID what I have in there, at least the big gray ones.

Post a pic! I can get you a basic ID or at least point you to an ID key.

[ANTdrew]

I will

[RushmoreAnts]

More isopods incoming! Armadillidium granulatum, nasatum peach, Cubaris murina, and Venezillo parvus.

Wait- how many species of Armadillidium do you have locally?

[ponerinecat]

Like 2-3, these are from another keeper in cali. The isopod hobby is very vast and I actually have access to lots of exotics, some legal some not (though I don't partake of the sketchy stuff).

[RushmoreAnts]

I’ve seen at least 1 around here. There was another that didn’t have hard exoskeletons like the prominent ones, and moved very quickly compared to them. Not sure if they were in the same genus.

[ANTdrew]

Here you go. These are about 3mm, grayish blue, and were collected in damp leaf litter last fall.

[ponerinecat]

Here you go. These are about 3mm, grayish blue, and were collected in damp leaf litter last fall.

Very pretty! Isotomidae sp.

[ANTdrew]

Isotomidae - roger that!

[ponerinecat]

Some absolutely gorgeous springtails were seen yesterday.

 

An unknown, bright red, banded globular. 2 were seen under a rock.

 

 

And a second, much more common entomobryid species, similar to atrocincta but much larger and all individuals seen were either entirely dark red or banded orange.

 

Sadly I wasnt able to get any good photos of the dark red ones.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Can globular springtails jump?

[ponerinecat]

Also saw a mass mating swarm of these at the base of a waterfall.

 

Can globular springtails jump?

They can indeed, and jump quite far as well.