105 replies to this topic

[SMILEforAnts]

Just waiting on my order of Hummingbird nectar so I can make this. It'll be here hopefully next week. I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes.

[Foogoo]

Just waiting on my order of Hummingbird nectar so I can make this. It'll be here hopefully next week. I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes.

 

I'm surprised you don't have it locally, then again, things are probably different in HI. I found it at my local pet shop and Home Depot.

[unusualfire]

Meal worms like it. One got louse from a soda pop cap. Then I found it today reaching up over into another pop cap that had this recipe.

[Chromerust]

That's pretty funny actually, I swear to recall feeding some to my mealworms once too

[Foogoo]

I came here to look for a solution to why my paste always turns into a starch brick in water after sitting in the fridge for a day then I realized I think I forgot to heat it when mixing in the starch. I also did some reading and it seems that pregeletinized starch (which is what I assume clear gel is) is designed to dissolve better. So for anyone making the paste: don't forget to heat when mixing!

[Chromerust]

That's pretty weird the only issue I've had was my last batch turned runny because I didn't add enough starch. Thanks for the info.

[Foogoo]

That's pretty weird the only issue I've had was my last batch turned runny because I didn't add enough starch. Thanks for the info.

 

Ok I just tried with a new batch, heat is essential to thickening the starch. I kept adding starch trying to get it to thicken and it didn't seem to be going anywhere so I popped it in the microwave just enough for it to get hot. The starch instantly gelled ("Clear Gel" suddenly made sense) and now I essentially made dough.

 

I think ideally you'd want to mix the gel over a hot plate or very low heat so the starch will gel and you can get it to the consistency you want. If not, pop it in the microwave frequently. Maybe it's just the starch I got. Chromerust, it sounded like your paste thickened without much hassle?

[SMILEforAnts]

 

Just waiting on my order of Hummingbird nectar so I can make this. It'll be here hopefully next week. I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes.

 

I'm surprised you don't have it locally, then again, things are probably different in HI. I found it at my local pet shop and Home Depot.

 

 

Yeah they don't sell it here because we don't have hummingbirds lol. The closest thing to a hummingbird we have here is the Hummingbird Moth. They look creepy too, reminds me of a flying shrimp with wings lol.

[Myrmicinae]

An interesting study relating to artificial diets:
http://link.springer...0040-014-0353-7

Edited by Myrmicinae, March 31 2015 - 11:05 AM.

[Chromerust]

That's pretty weird the only issue I've had was my last batch turned runny because I didn't add enough starch. Thanks for the info.

 
Ok I just tried with a new batch, heat is essential to thickening the starch. I kept adding starch trying to get it to thicken and it didn't seem to be going anywhere so I popped it in the microwave just enough for it to get hot. The starch instantly gelled ("Clear Gel" suddenly made sense) and now I essentially made dough.
 
I think ideally you'd want to mix the gel over a hot plate or very low heat so the starch will gel and you can get it to the consistency you want. If not, pop it in the microwave frequently. Maybe it's just the starch I got. Chromerust, it sounded like your paste thickened without much hassle?

Mine thickened up pretty easy, but honestly I wasn't sure if the liquid actually needed to be hot. Its just the way I did it the first time and I got lucky I guess. I just ran out so this next batch I'll try to get a estimate of how much starch I actually use.

[Foogoo]

An interesting study relating to artificial diets:
http://link.springer...0040-014-0353-7

 

I'm trying to find the full article but this is an interesting statement:

 

 

We advise caution in using diets that mix sugar and protein into a single “all in one” diet because workers and brood have differing dietary requirements.

 

Seems like keeping it simple with insects and sugar water is the way to go.

[KBant]

Great read, I think I’ll try my hand at making some unspoilable nectar or protein & nectar when I get some free time.

[nurbs]

An old thread comes back from the dead! 

 

Yes, it is a great read and very informative. Chromerust doesn't logon here as much as he used to unfortunately.

[Martialis]

An old thread comes back from the dead! 

 

Yes, it is a great read and very informative. Chromerust doesn't logon here as much as he used to unfortunately.

Agreed.

 

Of all the threads on formiculture, I really wasn't expecting this one to rise again.

[nurbs]

Made some this weekend, took pics.

 

 

[sgheaton]

An old thread comes back from the dead! 

 

Yes, it is a great read and very informative. Chromerust doesn't logon here as much as he used to unfortunately.

I immediately thought the same thing. "Wait a minute.. I haven't seen ____ post in years!" *2015...* "aah........"

I see myself doing this more than having an insect culture going. 

[Lazarus]

Fascinating thread. Glad it was resurrected since it was before my time here and never came up in my searches for various bits of info as a newbie.

[Arcais]

I tried to make this, and i did something wrong.  I was going for paste and ended up with oobleck

Edited by Arcais, October 12 2018 - 8:39 AM.

[Nukaman069]

This was extremely helpful!! thank you guys.

[mmcguffi]

Very useful post -- plan on making some of this this weekend -- bumping to relevancy once again

 

This thread is also useful to see the strange and angry inner machinations of someone I have purchased products from