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Help, Mites!(99%)

Started By Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* , Apr 15 2022 1:20 PM

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#1 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted April 15 2022 - 1:20 PM

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My 100 worker Camponotus Floridanus colony just had its 4th worker death, ever. But this death, I noticed a small little thing that looks like it has antennae, on the worker. I brood boosted in early stages, so I don’t think it was introduced then, as I would have had deaths due to this recently, and all other deaths were in first generation before anything else.
This is colony from this journal-


https://www.formicul...idanus-journal/



Here is pick of dying worker…

Notice the small bug on its gaster…
70D9A822-5AF3-4779-9A65-D21343FF66CF.jpeg

And yes, it moves! Please help!

Edited by SolenopsisKeeper-, April 15 2022 - 3:23 PM.

#2 Offline United-Ants - Posted April 15 2022 - 1:23 PM

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That look like a mite

#3 Offline Manitobant - Posted April 15 2022 - 1:37 PM

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That definitely seems like a mite. Try to buy some predatory hypoaspis mites to rid your colony of the infestation.
My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#4 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted April 15 2022 - 1:52 PM

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That definitely seems like a mite. Try to buy some predatory hypoaspis mites to rid your colony of the infestation.


Where do you get those?

#5 Offline NicholasP - Posted April 15 2022 - 2:10 PM

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That definitely seems like a mite. Try to buy some predatory hypoaspis mites to rid your colony of the infestation.


Where do you get those?

 

I don't remember where hypoaspis mites are sold but I can suggest to you to remove all infected workers or try to pry off the mites and see if that works.


gallery_5979_2399_15405.png

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 15 2022 - 2:49 PM

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Look up a company called NaturesGoodGuys on Amazon or eBay. They carry them.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline azzaaazzzz00 - Posted April 15 2022 - 2:51 PM

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Here are some I found:

https://www.growliv....hypoaspis-miles, frankly though, the least you can buy at a time is 10000 mites, that's a bit much

https://www.naturesg...=39911211729087, (as ANTdrew suggested)and again a little problem with the quantity of mites given at once.

And one last one: https://www.evergree...group-hypo.html


Been keeping ants since January of 2021

Always try new things, even if its hard, hard is not impossible. We are smart and it's good to be smart but not too smart for your own good.

#8 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted April 15 2022 - 3:18 PM

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That definitely seems like a mite. Try to buy some predatory hypoaspis mites to rid your colony of the infestation.


Where do you get those?
I don't remember where hypoaspis mites are sold but I can suggest to you to remove all infected workers or try to pry off the mites and see if that works.
Removed all dying workers… mites are gone… I think, although they could be on tweezers I used

#9 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted April 15 2022 - 3:19 PM

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Here are some I found:
https://www.growliv....hypoaspis-miles, frankly though, the least you can buy at a time is 10000 mites, that's a bit much
https://www.naturesg...=39911211729087, (as ANTdrew suggested)and again a little problem with the quantity of mites given at once.
And one last one: https://www.evergree...group-hypo.html


True. What would I do with so many good mites. Do they live off ants poop after that or will they need other mite/organisms.

#10 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted April 15 2022 - 3:22 PM

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Website says they inactive below 57. You think I could keep them in a fridge until I need them again?

#11 Offline NicholasP - Posted April 15 2022 - 4:07 PM

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Website says they inactive below 57. You think I could keep them in a fridge until I need them again?

I'm not sure. I'll look online and let you know what I come up with in the end.


gallery_5979_2399_15405.png

#12 Offline azzaaazzzz00 - Posted April 15 2022 - 5:27 PM

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Here are some I found:
https://www.growliv....hypoaspis-miles, frankly though, the least you can buy at a time is 10000 mites, that's a bit much
https://www.naturesg...=39911211729087, (as ANTdrew suggested)and again a little problem with the quantity of mites given at once.
And one last one: https://www.evergree...group-hypo.html


True. What would I do with so many good mites. Do they live off ants poop after that or will they need other mite/organisms.

 

I think they only feed on spring tails, mites, and sometimes small insects (maybe some other kinds of small orginisms that are related).

 

Website says they inactive below 57. You think I could keep them in a fridge until I need them again?

Well I guess that depends on how cold your freezer is on average, I found another website that says they can be stored at 8-12C for 1-2 days. I suppose if you happen to have extra springtails you could just feed them until you need them again. Nematodes also work but I'm not quite sure if that's easy to get (honestly, I don't even know what they are).


Been keeping ants since January of 2021

Always try new things, even if its hard, hard is not impossible. We are smart and it's good to be smart but not too smart for your own good.

#13 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted April 15 2022 - 5:30 PM

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Here are some I found:https://www.growliv....hypoaspis-miles, frankly though, the least you can buy at a time is 10000 mites, that's a bit muchhttps://www.naturesg...=39911211729087, (as ANTdrew suggested)and again a little problem with the quantity of mites given at once.
And one last one: https://www.evergree...group-hypo.html


True. What would I do with so many good mites. Do they live off ants poop after that or will they need other mite/organisms.
I think they only feed on spring tails, mites, and sometimes small insects (maybe some other kinds of small orginisms that are related).
 

Website says they inactive below 57. You think I could keep them in a fridge until I need them again?

Well I guess that depends on how cold your freezer is on average, I found another website that says they can be stored at 8-12C for 1-2 days. I suppose if you happen to have extra springtails you could just feed them until you need them again. Nematodes also work but I'm not quite sure if that's easy to get (honestly, I don't even know what they are).

I could release them, instructions on website…
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