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Subterranean Termite Help!


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#1 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 2 2017 - 5:48 PM

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I have caught 3 Subterranean Termite Queens and was wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks for raising them. Thanks!
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YJK


#2 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 3 2017 - 6:35 AM

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Reading journals would be a great idea.



#3 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted January 3 2017 - 7:00 AM

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I have caught 3 Subterranean Termite Queens and was wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks for raising them. Thanks!

check on them much less than ants, they HATE light.


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#4 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 3 2017 - 7:41 AM

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Reading journals would be a great idea.

Mmhmm I did that. Very helpful.

YJK


#5 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 4 2017 - 7:37 PM

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I used to keep subterranean termites. Here are some tips: 
 

Fill a test tube with damp dirt/coconut fiber(available in pet stores) (set it up like an ant tube and fill in the airspace with dirt), but leave some airspace between the dry cotton and the dirt.

 

Use a chopstick to make a small burrow in the dirt, but make it large enough to accommodate both the king and queen.

 

Let the colony founders walk into the burrow.

 

Once done, put some small pieces of cardboard/wood pieces in the airspace. Make sure there is still enough room for the termites to walk around. You can block off the burrow with cardboard, but make sure to leave some access to air.

 

Let them be. I've kept dry wood termites and subterranean termites in the light before, but only partial and dim light.

 

Make sure that there is some visibility.

 

If the cardboard starts to disappear, continue to add more, but be careful to not disturb the founders.

 

The eggs take 2 months to hatch.

 

Once you see first nymphs, then you will soon have a colony trying to excavate a massive nest in your little tube. Keep a close eye on your termites, and when you see that the worker adults have matured, try to GENTLY move them into a larger space (with some area already excavated, of course). Add some wood and cardboard every so often, but be careful to not disturb your termites. 

 

You may eventually see your workers make strange dirt tunnels extending out of the ground. When you see that, that means that your colony is starting to make foraging tubes to get at the food. It is a good sign.

 

 

I hope this helps!


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#6 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 4 2017 - 9:07 PM

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Hmmm that really helps! Unfortunatley I don't think I got any kings (RIP) is there a way past that? On some of Drew's journals I think he had termites without kings (?)


YJK


#7 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 4 2017 - 9:09 PM

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Also I have a question. I have the queens in a setup that is a regular test tube setup but instead of being just the airspace, I put a wet and mossy peice off wodd in it and the absolutley love it. Is it okay to keep them in that particular setup?


YJK


#8 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 4 2017 - 9:22 PM

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Are you sure you don't have kings? King and queen plates look identical!

 

If they don't have dirt their colony may not be as successful when it matures. If they seem happy, though, keep them like that! :)

 

Try to post a picture of your nest. I don't have a very good idea of what your nest looks like.


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Hawaiiant (Ben)

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#9 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 4 2017 - 9:23 PM

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Also, this is how to find a king:

Place all of the dealates in a large bucket. When you see them in pairs, grab the pairs and put them in their test tubes. If you see any termites that don't get a mate (odd number, forever alone) keep them as backup. You never know when you may get more termites! 


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Hawaiiant (Ben)

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#10 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 5 2017 - 6:51 AM

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Omg thanks so much Hawaiiant!!! I think I indeed do have a king! The Termites started to make little founding chambers in the wood. I have a bit of sand as a substrate. Here is a picture.

YJK


#11 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 5 2017 - 6:01 PM

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In the pic, I noticed one lone termite. Does that one have a mate?

 

Also, I'm excited to see your colony! keep an eye out for those orange eggs!


Edited by Hawaiiant, January 5 2017 - 6:02 PM.

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#12 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 6 2017 - 9:17 AM

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In the pic, I noticed one lone termite. Does that one have a mate?

Also, I'm excited to see your colony! keep an eye out for those orange eggs!

Mmhmm I noticed that too but eventually she/he joined the squad.

YJK


#13 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted January 6 2017 - 10:40 AM

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It's crazy how termites are so much like ants, but also so different! In Antkeeping you can easily tell males and queens apart, not with termites. And termites are so difficult to keep, also.

Good luck!!'


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#14 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 6 2017 - 6:07 PM

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In the pic, I noticed one lone termite. Does that one have a mate?

Also, I'm excited to see your colony! keep an eye out for those orange eggs!

Mmhmm I noticed that too but eventually she/he joined the squad.

 

How many are there in the squad? It would be interesting to see a polygyne termite colony :P


Hawaiiant (Ben)

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Plagiolepis Alluaudi
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Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps

#15 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 6 2017 - 6:23 PM

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There are 3 Dealates

YJK


#16 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 6 2017 - 6:29 PM

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It's all good I think. I was wondering if there was a sneaky termite hiding under the wood :P.


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Technomyrmex Difficilis
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Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
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Small Fat Centipede
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#17 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 6 2017 - 7:53 PM

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 I Have a question as well! At about when do they usually lay eggs? It has been about 4-5 days with no eggs!


YJK


#18 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 6 2017 - 9:21 PM

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Lol, termites are by far the weird bugs. 

 

They take about 2 weeks to lay eggs (my experience) I think. Then they will take 2 months to hatch.


Hawaiiant (Ben)

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Miniature Labradoodle
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Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps

#19 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 7 2017 - 7:59 AM

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Lol, termites are by far the weird bugs.

They take about 2 weeks to lay eggs (my experience) I think. Then they will take 2 months to hatch.

:facepalm:

YJK


#20 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted January 7 2017 - 11:22 AM

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I sometimes wonder if my termites just laid slow.


Hawaiiant (Ben)

Keeper of
Miniature Labradoodle
Baby Wolf Spider
Mud Dauber wasp larvae
Ochetellus Glaber
Solenopsis Geminata
Brachymyrmex Obscurior
Cardiocondyla Emeryi
Tetramorium Bicarinatum
Plagiolepis Alluaudi
Anoplolepis Gracilipes
Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps




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