74 replies to this topic

[antsandmore]

man, now you have wasps and termites:) nice

[Swirlysnowflake]

For protein they mainly eat any type of worms, not flies. Sometimes they will but very unlikely. Sugar water or honey is a nice source is food. Also make sure to provide peices of paper in the cage for nesting material. Also make sure she has natural lighting etc.

Wasps tend to like crane flies as a food source, I've heard this from multiple other wasp keepers, but I'm sure it also depends on species lol.

[Swirlysnowflake]

 

 

For protein they mainly eat any type of worms, not flies. Sometimes they will but very unlikely. Sugar water or honey is a nice source is food. Also make sure to provide peices of paper in the cage for nesting material. Also make sure she has natural lighting etc.

Wasps tend to like crane flies as a food source, I've heard this from multiple other wasp keepers, but I'm sure it also depends on species lol.

 

I've never seen them do it here. They mainly eat caterpillers over here in SD, where M Ants is. 

I've also seen polistes aurifer fave food is worms from what I have seen in the wild

 

True. I've only seen Vespula hunting flies in the wild lol.

[M_Ants]

I don't have any worms right now....Here's her setup/location

[M_Ants]

Is this okay? Do I need to add paper? Do I NEED worms? Thanks

[Swirlysnowflake]

Is this okay? Do I need to add paper? Do I NEED worms? Thanks

Looks good. Just cardboard is fine, and any wood chunks you have would work well, but they aren't needed. And no, protein is not needed until the queen builds her nest and lays her first batch of eggs. 

[M_Ants]

Thanks. Will I ever need worms though?

[M_Ants]

Like regular printer paper or is that dangerous? And as soon as she lays eggs she needs worms?

[Swirlysnowflake]

Like regular printer paper or is that dangerous? And as soon as she lays eggs she needs worms?

As soon as she lays eggs, having worms would be ideal. I DoorDashed a cup of waxworms from PetSmart for my wasps. And IMO, just cardboard and wood is good enough for a wasp to found a colony, but I haven’t had much personal experience with them so idk lol

[ZTYguy]

Man, wish I had a wasp queen to raise. I sad. I also very jelly.

[Swirlysnowflake]

Man, wish I had a wasp queen to raise. I sad. I also very jelly.

I know a spot where tons of wasp queens come out in spring. In the next few months I should have queens of both Polistes aurifer and Polistes dominula. I can sell you some when/if I get them, if you'd like?

[ZTYguy]

 

Man, wish I had a wasp queen to raise. I sad. I also very jelly.

I know a spot where tons of wasp queens come out in spring. In the next few months I should have queens of both Polistes aurifer and Polistes dominula. I can sell you some when/if I get them, if you'd like?

 

That would be lovely.

[antsandmore]

 

Thanks. Will I ever need worms though?

Yes you will need worms. Maxworms are best. Along with caterpillers. Also paper does help with nest making.

 

Waxworms? or Maxworms?

 

 

Man, wish I had a wasp queen to raise. I sad. I also very jelly.

I know a spot where tons of wasp queens come out in spring. In the next few months I should have queens of both Polistes aurifer and Polistes dominula. I can sell you some when/if I get them, if you'd like?

 

That would be lovely.

 

Me tooo!

[Swirlysnowflake]

 

 

 

Man, wish I had a wasp queen to raise. I sad. I also very jelly.

I know a spot where tons of wasp queens come out in spring. In the next few months I should have queens of both Polistes aurifer and Polistes dominula. I can sell you some when/if I get them, if you'd like?

 

That would be lovely.

 

Me tooo!

 

Cool, I'll send you both a dm when I get some queens

[KitsAntVa]

I need to catch me a wasp queen now, not exactly a queen but the ones that kinda are parasites. They eat caterpillars and then lay an egg on them so it will develop.

[ZTYguy]

ooooooh, like that one they always show on natgeo wild . . . i think.

[Swirlysnowflake]

I need to catch me a wasp queen now, not exactly a queen but the ones that kinda are parasites. They eat caterpillars and then lay an egg on them so it will develop.

Those are solitary wasps, and there are tons of species. I'm planning to try and breed some this summer if I can catch any.

Edited by Swirlysnowflake, January 12 2021 - 9:00 AM.

[Scherme]

Very cool. I am jealous as well.

 

Had one emerge in my house a couple weeks ago, freaked out the wife so I killed and fed to my ants. They hollowed it out.

 

I would have kept it but I don't have the time/space/equipment at the moment. One day I'll raise a batch.