78 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

Here’s a better of the BigFatPhids enclosure. Its a horizontal version of their vertical enclosures for Phidippus jumping spiders.
I see two loose termites but all the others have disappeared. I got extra soft rotting wood for them so maybe it’s easier for them to make nests in it than the previous woods I had tried. The extra soft wood I acquired as isopod food.



Evidence of recent nest-building plus discarded wings:

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, October 24 2021 - 1:57 PM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Oops, might these new termites be subterranean? I was reading a news article that said subterraneans are swarming locally, so uh ... uh oh. I know zero about subs!

[ANTdrew]

Read Nare’s guide.

[JamesJohnson]

Oops, might these new termites be subterranean? I was reading a news article that said subterraneans are swarming locally, so uh ... uh oh. I know zero about subs!

Yes, subterraneans have been flying in droves.

[NancyZamora4991]

if the termites are dark brown/black they are subterranean

[OhNoNotAgain]

In the Termitat we are down to just four. However, today when I watered them I discovered one of them may have molted. Tell me what you think is going on.

All photos come out rotated 90 degrees but it doesn’t matter much.

Empty shell in top right of first photo.
Suspiciously pale and big termite also visible.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, March 28 2022 - 8:30 PM.

[NicholasP]

In the Termitat we are down to just four. However, today when I watered them I discovered one of them may have molted. Tell me what you think is going on.

All photos come out rotated 90 degrees but it doesn’t matter much.

Empty shell in top right of first photo.
Suspiciously pale and big termite also visible.


34A47C2F-9C7C-48FC-86A1-07F5202DEFC2.jpeg

3422563D-48AB-4515-9938-B14EA475B401.jpeg

The termite on the bottom of the first picture seems like a Secondary Reproductive which will be molted into by one of the workers if no queen is present. Congrats!

[OhNoNotAgain]

The termite on the bottom of the first picture seems like a Secondary Reproductive which will be molted into by one of the workers if no queen is present. Congrats!

 

Thanks! That's what I'm hoping! That was also the one that had tiny stubby wings. But if there's no king there's no point, right? (There's only 3 others so I'm worried about that they're all female....)

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, April 1 2022 - 7:48 PM.

[NicholasP]

They should have a male shortly. Try to aid them in every way possible though like making sure their wood is good and that they have the right amount of water needed to thrive.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Sad Termitat update: Unfortunately the last 4 termites went kablooey. Even the big one died and I was down to 2. The odds of having a male and a female who could survive to reproduce was essentially nil.

I also learned that frass means UNDERWATERING. They should be pooping gooey wood glue instead.

Soooooooo here we go. A new batch, whom I’ve freshly watered in this photo.

[OhNoNotAgain]

I got winged alates! 😳😳



Two of them. They are running around the outside of the wood, probably wanting to fly.

Plus a couple of these stubby-winged ones.


Unfortunately better watering and more termites = more gunk smeared all over, making it hard to see anything.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Termitat update. Someone on YouTube asked for an update, so here is a YouTube update.

SPOILER: I found a soldier!!!! Also, back in June, there were 2 winged alates. I included a photo in the video.

 

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, October 26 2023 - 12:32 PM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Watered my Termitat today and saw this. ? ??

[OhNoNotAgain]

Video of the above.

https://youtu.be/5Nh...YznrMLnORHZR_4e

[OhNoNotAgain]

Update: We have babies!!

Which means: We have reproductives!!!

 

[OhNoNotAgain]

Another quick update with more adorable baby termite footage.

 

[Stubyvast]

What that is probably the weirdest naming I've ever seen! Like what would possess you to name it boops boops! So funny! (Gonna look it up too...right about now...)

[OhNoNotAgain]

Two videos:

 

The horrible experience of trying to collect drywood termites from firewood:

 

 

 

Mid-August 2024 Termitat update video (babies are growing):

 

 

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, August 11 2024 - 9:06 PM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

So I was late watering my Termitat.

They were REALLY thirsty.

Some very cute termites drinking, plus a soldier's mandibles in action.

 

 

 

 

One termite got stuck by the expanding wood and possibly from overdrinking. I'll later post a video on how I freed it.

 

UPDATE: Posted the Termitat emergency (freeing the stuck termite) video in Termite Keeping here:

https://www.formicul...frass-cleaning/ )

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, October 9 2024 - 12:28 PM.