23 replies to this topic

[Subverted]

Again...this is a condensed topic for all my termite related endeavors. I had dampwood termites in the past and absolutely love them but those are the only ones I have had any real success with so far.

 

Right now I have a good number of Incisitermes minor (Western Drywood Termites):

 

 

 

Worker and reproductive peeking out

 

These live in vertical willow limbs so I have them in just a simple testtube setup with a plug I made:

 

I've also got an attempt at subterranean termites going...but its not looking great, only this lone reproductive is wandering around:

[Bardusquus]

I love it

[Alza]

update

[Subverted]

Not much of an update but I think this is the second drywood colony I have that I'm trying to get going:

 

[LC3]

Ant's are really cool. Termites are really cute.

[Alza]

These arent dry woods, you can tell by looking at the round head of the soldier and the curved mandibles. These would be formosan termites, but I don't have the energy to search the genus name for them.

Edited by Alza, June 27 2015 - 9:55 AM.

[Alza]

Since most termites look the same, the soldiers are one of the only ways to identify the genus's. 

[Ants4fun]

Since most termites look the same, the soldiers are one of the only ways to identify the genus's.

What soldiers do you see? All I see are reproductive and nymphs/workers.

[William. T]

 

Since most termites look the same, the soldiers are one of the only ways to identify the genus's.

What soldiers do you see? All I see are reproductive and nymphs/workers.

 

Look at the first pic.

[Subverted]

These arent dry woods, you can tell by looking at the round head of the soldier and the curved mandibles. These would be formosan termites, but I don't have the energy to search the genus name for them.

Sorry Alza but these are definitely western dry woods (Incisitermes minor).

 

[Alza]

Seeing it from that angle reimburses it, thanks c:

[LC3]

Meanwhile as pest controls are exterminating these precious termites....

...Alza is in dire need to look at their soldier caste.

[Subverted]

The drywood termites are still doing well:

 

[dermy]

Glad to hear they are doing well

[Myrmicinae]

Very nice!  Forgive me if you already mentioned this, but what ended up happening to your Zootermopsis colony?

[Subverted]

Very nice!  Forgive me if you already mentioned this, but what ended up happening to your Zootermopsis colony?

 

It survived about 4 years, if I am remembering correctly... 2008 thru 2012.

[Myrmicinae]

 

Very nice!  Forgive me if you already mentioned this, but what ended up happening to your Zootermopsis colony?

 

It survived about 4 years, if I am remembering correctly... 2008 thru 2012.

 

 

Do you have any idea what brought about their demise?

[Subverted]

A combination of needing to be rehoused into fresh wood and neglect.

[ctantkeeper]

what kind of wood do you use, would pine be ok?

[Subverted]

Pine is a very bad choice due to the oils it has in it.

 

Most any hardwood should be fine. I'm actually using cottonwood.