19 replies to this topic

[StayLoki]

I just went outside to check some of my ant queen traps, check my pool, and the side of my house(which is white, making it perfect for queen scouting) and found the strangest little bug walking.
I thought it was some sort of new tick or something, the way it was moving, or a spider..
I had test tubes with me and I dunno I picked the little guy up.
I'm kinda freaked, cuz its a mite and I almost don't want it in my house!! lol
But at the same time it seems to hunt insects and eats ants, etc. As I'm always out looking for ants I could grab it a snack or some eggs at least

Idk, what do you guys think..
Do u think can squeeze through a cotton plugged tt?? (Its currently in a capped twist plug and can go nowhere)
But thinking one of my ant queen setups..?

https://www.google.c...67.s6rHKsVJBZk=

[StayLoki]

Edited by StayLoki, April 23 2018 - 1:07 PM.

[StayLoki]

Pictures don't even do it justice.
It's amazing looking and I think I'm going to keep it around.
Sort of made it a little terrarium and it digs it.
I have it with me so I can make sure it can't squeeze between the glass and cotton..get out and hunt down all my ant queens.

[StayLoki]

HUH
Was looking up about these guys..and they're not really in my area?? It does vaguely say they have been seen as far east as new jersey. (I'm in NY, usa)
...
Also says:
These mites do not survive in captivity. I have seen many comments from people in blogs, who say that these mites did not even survive a night.

iiinteresting

I need to catch some food for my little mighty-mite and see what happens.. .. .. .

[StayLoki]

It reminds me of a crab.. Wish I could post a video for you guys!

Edited by StayLoki, April 23 2018 - 1:16 PM.

[Canadian anter]

Just a normal sized velvet mite

[Serafine]

 

--> http://theoatmeal.co...red_velvet_mite

[StayLoki]

"
At about 5mm long, it is considered a giant among mites, except for the Giant RVM
...
If you think a 5mm RVM is fun, how about a 12mm (half-inch) RVM? The Giant RVM (Dinothrombium sp.) lives in some parts of North America, especially the Southwest
...
"

I'm not going to argue semantics with you, but either way it's common name is gaint red velvet mite. And it still states that even Dinothrombium (true GRVM) are still in my area.

But thank you. I'll have to get TC to change the title before I get more of this nonsense

Anyone else tried keeping them?

[StayLoki]

^^ I know I just saw this love affair with them.. Is ladybugs on here?! Id love to make friends ^^
Thanks serafine, I found that hilarious!!!!

Edited by StayLoki, May 3 2018 - 1:06 PM.

[StayLoki]

Any ideas on what I should feed this guy??
I left protein in while I was at work but I have no idea if it munched on it..
Do you guys think it has to be live prey?? Or keep putting carrion in atleast??
It's still alive and I'd like to keep it around

[VenomousBeast]

Try termites, I've found that they just enjoy soft invertebrates, can be beetle larvae eggs, etc.

[StayLoki]

Ok thanks!!

[Connectimyrmex]

I have had a red velvet mite (I believe that it is the same species as yours) in my terrarium for a month by now. It is not very picky with food (it ate several springtails, a baby wood roach, and a fresh-killed termite alate), but often prefers a good amount of foraging space. Try keeping yours in a tupperware or community terrarium, or at least a small glass box with damp coconut fiber on the bottom.

[StayLoki]

Hmmm. Maybe I should go get one of those little memorabilia boxes, like a little one and set up a bigger space..
It does seem bored in my little tt setup. ..
And the soil is dry, and when it was wet it moved chunks and redecorated lol

Still doing ok tho, and I looked for more after the rain today but no luck.
Thinking of making something bigger and hunting down something proper for it to eat lol

[StayLoki]

@Connectimyrmex..humidity must be important to them.. I was thinking of wetting the cotton ball plug hoping to trap more moisture in there..but coconut fiber or mini-moss terrarium might be spot on!
Thank you for the advice!!

[StayLoki]

I made it a fancy-dancy tic tac terrarium

It's not the best, but it's my first attempt at one.
It seems to like the moss/litchen stuff the best and next time I think I'll add much more like you guys suggested.

Edited by StayLoki, May 6 2018 - 12:40 PM.

[StayLoki]

I should have let move water evap out before I put it in, in hindsight, but I was too excited to get it done and get it out of the tt that I rushed it.
Not sure if it's up there to hangout, or to get away from the moisture on the bottom.
And now it's too late to just leave the hatch open...I was thinking of cotton plugging it but I'm afraid it can squeeze out if its not just right lol

So I'll just see what happens.

[StayLoki]

Thinking of making another one, mostly just moss/rotting wood, like pretty much "stuffed" and more freeform.
This was more like a "zen garden" attempt for me with the little rocks and stuff, but there's a lot of empty space I've realized and it could be efficiently used with a leaf and moss and much simpler...

[StayLoki]

It's pretty cool the tiny clovers I put in there sprouted..hopefully they'll bring me good luck.
Unfortunately the condensation has made it hard for viewing and taking photos. Lol

Edited by StayLoki, May 8 2018 - 7:59 AM.

[Mirandarachnid]

How is your little mite? 

 

I collected some of these today and I'd love to culture them, so I'm trying to figure out what works!