24 replies to this topic

[batsonstevens1]

The first picture is from yesterday when the package finally arrived. And the last is from this morning (2/6/21).

As you can see in the middle when I was watering the setup the crack in the wood caused the water to go everywhere. Lucky I didn’t put too much and the colony moved up for a while.

Throughout yesterday two workers were going off in the wide-open entrance left of the water hole I was nervous they would explore too much and fall out. However, if you look at the first picture to last you can see they batch this entrance up.

Also, they seem to be working on 2-3 tunnels. With one being on the left and the second above the left one inside while the third is the crack in the water hole but I think it them just getting water from it.

I’ve counted 28 total termites with 5 nymphs 4 soldiers 1 queen and 18 workers

So far I’m loving the Termitat since it’s amazing to watch how they interact and looking at the work. Plus it’s been helping me stay focus on my school work since it’s at my desk.

The only issue so far is it does leak water but I think it was because I put it up to fast and didn’t let the water absorb fast enough.

Including shipping, it came out around 156 so this isn’t something you wanna get as a phase or you're so-so. Since there are other cheaper DIY methods of having a setup like this. But for me adding up the shipping and supplies since I’m not near a good area of termite flights I would have to pay the shipping to get some from wards or Carolina. Which in total around 70-90 could’ve been 40 if I wanted to wait and find a location in the wild.

It all depends on if you wanna try it yourself for cheaper or have your setup or pay a higher price upfront that will last years before you gotta replace it. Originally I was gonna get the Termitat and try a DIY setup but after seeing my damp-wood termite colony and the beautiful setup I was content.

I would love to keep you all updated on my colony since there isn't much casual documentation of keeping termites compared to other insects. This is what got me into this after a random documentary on termites on my recommendations.

Thanks for reading


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[FSTP]

This is great, its nice to see more people get termitats! I have one that's 4 years old and still going strong. They need more wood though so I need to get them some soon. 

[batsonstevens1]

That’s great to hear since I plan on keeping my Termitat for years to come. But what I love about Termites is their complex social structure and observing it so close is amazing since every minute it’s something new. It’s something about seeing a group of complex animals up close and personal. A lot of my family and friends wanted to know why I got it and the purpose of it. I’ve just said it looks neat just like any desk decoration or art piece plus their living and always doing something.

[Superant33]

I hope all of you termitat owners get secondary reproductives. I used to live in the Pacific Northwest and collected damp wood termites. Never could get secondary reproductives.

[Antkeeper01]

sooooo lucky my parents hate termites

[mmcguffi]

This is great, its nice to see more people get termitats! I have one that's 4 years old and still going strong. They need more wood though so I need to get them some soon. 

Have you been able to get secondary reproductives? I've had my termitat for a few months now with no indication of secondaries

[mmcguffi]

I’ve counted 28 total termites with 5 nymphs 4 soldiers 1 queen and 18 workers
 

Mine also came with a pigmented primary, but I think it's a king, not a queen. No signs of eggs or larvae yet!

[FSTP]

 

This is great, its nice to see more people get termitats! I have one that's 4 years old and still going strong. They need more wood though so I need to get them some soon. 

Have you been able to get secondary reproductives? I've had my termitat for a few months now with no indication of secondaries

 

 

 

Yes I did, I had mine about 6 months before they started developing. 

[ANTdrew]

Some day I’ll get one of these.

[batsonstevens1]

2/7/21 12:04 pm






2/8/21 10:48pm





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[mmcguffi]

Your primary reproductive does look a bit more physogastric than mine does, so I think you may be correct in that it is a queen, not a king. Very cool! don't tell the feds 

 

Also those small larvae in many of the pictures?

Edited by mmcguffi, February 9 2021 - 11:33 AM.

[antsandmore]

Your primary reproductive does look a bit more physogastric than mine does, so I think you may be correct in that it is a queen, not a king. Very cool! don't tell the feds 

 

Also those small larvae in many of the pictures?

you mean nymphs?

also, I didn't know that termitats came with so many termites. Hopefully some of my termites will also become reproductives.

[mmcguffi]

 

you mean nymphs?

also, I didn't know that termitats came with so many termites. Hopefully some of my termites will also become reproductives.

 

"Lower termites" have ...weird terminology. Technically the first instars are "larvae" which can molt into nymphs. These nymphs have a few options then, as the can molt into alates or secondary reproductives, and I believe they can go back an instar and ultimately turn into soldiers. I agree though that larvae is a poorly-chosen term for this though -- this makes me think of holometabolous insects (eg: moths, wasps, ants, beetles, etc)

[batsonstevens1]

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[OhNoNotAgain]

I too have not seen any sign of actual reproduction. If you get any eggs and such, do post!!

[OhNoNotAgain]

Today I got a bunch of wild drywoods(?) out of pieces of a just-cut dying tree. I put a dozen in a jar with a small piece of wood, and the rest are going in the freezer as ant food. There are still pieces of wood outside, but the Argentines have found them and I don’t know how long they will last.

And the Termitat is still going. I should probably water it more thoroughly… around here not much danger of it getting too damp!

I have photos but they aren’t too awesome.
Just posting this so I don’t forget!

[OhNoNotAgain]

Here are some photos....

 

First off, my actual Termitat's status.

 

Front of nest:

Back of nest:

 

And here are some wild termites from the felled tree. The Argentine ants found them and I think have killed them by now. 

Wild termites in cup. I froze a bunch to use as feeders, and kept a few alive.

 

Sad photo of Argentines carting off a wild soldier:

 

 

[OhNoNotAgain]

Nooooo. I apparently haven’t been watering often enough. I looked today and found only 8 termites 😭.
But they look big and fat, at least. I hope that’s a good sign.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Down to 6! I’m watering them more often in case that helps.

[WSantkeeper]

Soooooooo jealous! Wish I could have them.