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Convincing my grandpa to let me keep termites

Started By JesseTheAntKid , Feb 7 2024 5:59 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline JesseTheAntKid - Posted February 7 2024 - 5:59 PM

JesseTheAntKid

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I have a problem.

Grandpa won't let me keep termites.

How can I convince him?


Currently keeping: Pheidole obscurithorax (FINALLY I CAN STUDY THEM AND HAVE THEIR COOL MAJORS  B)), Tetramorium bicarinatum, Solenopsis spp. (probably xyloni, the queens are tiny hehe)

Wanting: Atta texana, Camponotus planatus (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HOOK ME UP WITH ATTA)

Previously kept: Monomorium minimum, Pheidole dentata

 

"ATTAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!" -Me

"AAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" -Even more me

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"- Me personified

#2 Offline Artisan_Ants - Posted February 7 2024 - 6:18 PM

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Here are some suggestions. Give him some evidence about why termites are fascinating (or how they help the environment). Show him escape barrier methods to prevent them from escaping. Show home food info, and housing info.

Keeping:

3x - S. molesta (colonies and single queen)                1x - C. nearcticus (founding but no eggs)   (y) New!

1x - C. chromaiodes (colony)                                       1x - C. subbarbatus (founding)  

1x - F. subsericea (founding)                                        1x - T. sessile (mega colony)

3x - P. imparis (colonies)  

2x - L. neoniger (founding)

 

Check out my C. nearcticus journal here: https://www.formicul...cticus-journal/

Check out my C. chromaiodes journal here: https://www.formicul...aiodes-journal/

#3 Offline AsdinAnts - Posted February 7 2024 - 8:11 PM

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I can’t get termites either 😛 If I catch termite alates I usually hide them and try to make a colony of them, or I just feed them to my ants.

Edited by AsdinAnts, February 7 2024 - 8:13 PM.

Currently keeping
-T. immigrans

-B. patagonicus

-P. ???
I will want to also keep some other lasius types in the future.
You should also subscribe to my youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@AsdAnts

#4 Offline bmb1bee - Posted February 7 2024 - 8:42 PM

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I can’t get termites either If I catch termite alates I usually hide them and try to make a colony of them, or I just feed them to my ants.

I have one remaining pair of termites I'm trying to get rid of through selling. If they die or no one ends up buying, I'll just feed them to my ants lmao.

 

I have a problem.

Grandpa won't let me keep termites.

How can I convince him?

Like what Artisan_Ants said, to give him info on how the threat level depends on the species of termite and that you can responsibly prevent them from escaping. A simple plastic container with a lid (like a Petri dish) is enough to contain them without a single chance of escape. Not to mention that they dessicate quickly and only become established if a large amount of them escape into a relatively rotted chunk of wood.


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"Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, his eyes can't hit what the eyes can't see."
- Muhammad Ali

Check out my shop and parasitic Lasius journal! Discord user is bmb1bee if you'd like to chat.

Also check out my YouTube channel: @bmb1bee

#5 Offline Artisan_Ants - Posted February 8 2024 - 4:48 AM

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I can’t get termites either If I catch termite alates I usually hide them and try to make a colony of them, or I just feed them to my ants.

I don’t ever get termites in my area. They’re there, but they don’t ever show up. I’ve seen alates and termites on wood many years before (like 3 or 4) but haven’t seen any since.

Keeping:

3x - S. molesta (colonies and single queen)                1x - C. nearcticus (founding but no eggs)   (y) New!

1x - C. chromaiodes (colony)                                       1x - C. subbarbatus (founding)  

1x - F. subsericea (founding)                                        1x - T. sessile (mega colony)

3x - P. imparis (colonies)  

2x - L. neoniger (founding)

 

Check out my C. nearcticus journal here: https://www.formicul...cticus-journal/

Check out my C. chromaiodes journal here: https://www.formicul...aiodes-journal/

#6 Offline Manitobant - Posted February 8 2024 - 6:44 AM

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Tell him the fact that less than 10% of termite species are actually considered pests, with the vast majority being wild and harmless to us and our structures.
  • Artisan_Ants likes this
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/

#7 Offline Artisan_Ants - Posted February 8 2024 - 7:17 AM

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Tell him the fact that less than 10% of termite species are actually considered pests, with the vast majority being wild and harmless to us and our structures.

Now that's a really good fact.

Keeping:

3x - S. molesta (colonies and single queen)                1x - C. nearcticus (founding but no eggs)   (y) New!

1x - C. chromaiodes (colony)                                       1x - C. subbarbatus (founding)  

1x - F. subsericea (founding)                                        1x - T. sessile (mega colony)

3x - P. imparis (colonies)  

2x - L. neoniger (founding)

 

Check out my C. nearcticus journal here: https://www.formicul...cticus-journal/

Check out my C. chromaiodes journal here: https://www.formicul...aiodes-journal/

#8 Offline Full_Frontal_Yeti - Posted February 8 2024 - 11:02 AM

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If what i seen online so far holds up, then you could tell him the statistcail probabliy is they will not make it long, and die off within 1-2 year time frame anyway.

 

As far as i have seen, keeping termites long term is not something people have a commonly high sucess rate with.
It's not a nice thing to face going in, but if it is true best to know so up front and be real about the undertaking befroe you.

Which from grandpa's POV can be a likely temporary sitauton that self removes anyway, so no need to worry about this short term stuff.

 

I mean best of luck for the longer term and all of course. Just reporting on what i seen of this topic so far. It appears to be the high challenge/high fail rate keeper effort to face.


Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, February 8 2024 - 11:07 AM.

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