39 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

Beginning 5-31-2020

 

I decided 2020 is the time for me to take the plunge into termite keeping. I've seen multiple flights of Recticulitermes flavipes in my area over the past two weeks, and I managed to snag 8 alates. Most of these I snagged out of mid-air. I put the alates in a plastic shoe box with damp sand in it, so they could shed their wings and get in a romantic mood. I put three of the resulting pairs in their own separate test tubes filled with damp sand and rotten silver maple wood. I put a third straggler termite in one of the tubes.

 

Here's a pair coupling up, awww:

 

I only plan to keep one healthy colony, which I will name Covfefe. More to come.

Edited by ANTdrew, August 31 2020 - 7:16 AM.

[FeedTheAnts]

Cool! I just saw a queen and male under a log while on a hike. They had a little clump of eggs. 

[Nare]

Hoping they do well. I haven't had any imagoes die once they've laid eggs, so if yours have, you're likely good. I'd've held onto a few more pairs just for insurance, but it shouldn't be difficult to find more in the off chance that Covfefe don't make it.

[Jimmydave937911]

Looking forward to more updates Drew!

[ANTdrew]

Hoping they do well. I haven't had any imagoes die once they've laid eggs, so if yours have, you're likely good. I'd've held onto a few more pairs just for insurance, but it shouldn't be difficult to find more in the off chance that Covfefe don't make it.

I have three pairs for insurance. They’ve all disappeared into the rotten wood, though, so I have no way of knowing if they laid eggs. I’ll just keep the pair that gets the most workers. I’ll release the rest in my yard or in my d*ck-head neighbor’s yard. (See my Termite Story post)

[Antkid12]

LOL, and strangely for me all the termite I've kept in rotton wood died of fungus. 

Edited by Antkid12, May 31 2020 - 4:28 PM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Wish I could find termites. There’s just too much Lasius of all kinds in every dead stick and under every rock to support much else other than ants, worms, and isopods.

[ANTdrew]

Update 6-9-2020

 

Not much has changed for Covfefe. Two of the tubes' termite pairs have disappeared from sight entirely. I can only hope they are doing ok in some sort of chamber or something. Oddly enough, I can see the dealates in the tube that has three dealates in it. They group up right up to the side of the tube and aren't showing any aggression. I don't know if this is a good sign or a bad one.

There was another big flight of these here on June 5th, but I didn't want to catch any more.

 

You can just make out the "third wheel" in the lower part of this photo:

Edited by ANTdrew, June 9 2020 - 9:38 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Nice colony of cockroaches you have there. I also have some Zooptermes nevadaensis reproductives I successfully introduced to some wild workers.

[ANTdrew]

Nice colony of cockroaches you have there. I also have some Zooptermes nevadaensis reproductives I successfully introduced to some wild workers.

Thanks. Got a dubia roach breeder colony in the mail, too.

[Antkid12]

Has your pair laid any eggs yet?

[ANTdrew]

Update 7-9-2020

After weeks and weeks of seemingly nothing, I noticed that Covfefe have their first worker nymphs! These are unbelievably small and very adorable, in my opinion. These are in the tube that had three dealates in it, though I can only see two now, so maybe one was dispatched. RIP


All I've been doing is sprinkling a little water on their rotten wood every few weeks or so. I'm excited to see where this journey goes!

Edited by ANTdrew, July 9 2020 - 11:10 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Lovely!

[Antkid12]

So cute!!!

[ANTdrew]

I know, right?

[VenomousBeast]

Nice!! Congrats on finally starting termites!! I’ve been into termites longer than I have been with ants and I’ve got some termites too!! Not Reticulitermes flav. but a Zooptermes sp. Instead that I found in my area! Which I’m glad to find cause they are rather hard to find in NOVA!

Edited by VenomousBeast, July 9 2020 - 12:38 PM.

[VenomousBeast]

I do dream of getting the termites from Africa that grow fungus like leaf cutter ants!! It’d be so cool!! They collect grasses instead of leaves.

[TennesseeAnts]

I do dream of getting the termites from Africa that grow fungus like leaf cutter ants!! It’d be so cool!! They collect grasses instead of leaves.

I wonder if those would be legal to import?

[VenomousBeast]

I do dream of getting the termites from Africa that grow fungus like leaf cutter ants!! It’d be so cool!! They collect grasses instead of leaves.

I wonder if those would be legal to import?

Maybe!! I’ll look into it and report back!

[Antkid12]

Africa termites are so cool, they have tons of workers!

Edited by Antkid12, July 9 2020 - 1:27 PM.