9 replies to this topic

[Sim]

Hi everyone!

 

My name is Simon.

I am currently in my last year of a part time undergraduate bachelor of science degree, in life sciences (Zoology, Plant sciences) at the University of Tasmania. 

I am interested in ecological research using invertebrate systems and so far have only managed a few projects involving wolf spiders, caterpillar wasp parasitoids and eucalyptus weevils. I have always toyed with the idea of building up a group of formicarium for subjects to use in experiments.

 

I have decided to join this forum to get a better understanding of best practices in keeping and breeding up varying species. I'm most interested in local species, but love looking at everyones setups and pictures from around the world.

 

Thanks in advance for any help you all provide, directly or indirectly.

 

Best regards.

Sim.

 

Happy 2017 also.

[dspdrew]

Nice. Welcome.

[Alabama Anter]

Holy crap fancy! Welcome!

[T.C.]

Welcome to the forum Simon. I am a all around insect keeper, including ants, spiders, etc etc. Maybe you could rub off some of your knowledge on keeping wolf spiders, caterpillar wasp parasitoids and eucalyptus weevils  on to me. 

 

Again Hello and Welcome to formiculture!

[Canadian anter]

!$%? Tasmania I'm really envious of you right now

[Sim]

Thank you all! I feel most welcome.

 

@T.C. 

My knowledge is still only basic. Keeping weevils is reasonably strait forward. Just keeping up fresh leaves and cleaning containers regularly (every second day minimum). I had about two thousand Gonipterus larvae on the go at one time, and it was a full time job cleaning and transferring them from container to container. There were a few late nights until they were sent off to their new home in Chile.

The parasitoid wasps were rather strait forward as I had access to lab supplied caterpillar eggs for the tiny wasps to parasitise. The trick was transferring them between containers as they were pretty hard to see. Research on these guys was based on diet induced mortality. It was a group project that showed a non significant bias that honey and about a 10%sugar water solution works best to keep them alive for longer. There were a lot of replicates in this test but the amount of mishaps that caused death that had to be discounted. 

 

Wolf spiders were reasonably easy but I think the setup we went for could have been better.

 

@Canadian anter

Yes I'm enjoying being in the southern hemisphere at the moment. Lots of insects out and about. I'm still waiting to see more of our species. I do want to do a bit more wet sclerophyll and temperate rain forest fauna exploration this summer. Working four days and family commitments suck up a bit of my personal interest times while I'm not at uni, but will do my best to get out there.

 

Best regards,

Sim.

 

PS I will try to get some photos up of our species we have down here.

[Enderz]

Welcome! sounds like you do some fun stuff!

[FSTP]

Welcome to formiculture!

 

I can't wait to see what ants you have down in Tasmania. 

[Leo]

welcome

[Goldsystem]

Welcome

Edited by Goldsystem, January 18 2017 - 2:51 PM.