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Reticulitermes flavipes questions (important)!!!


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#1 Offline ctantkeeper - Posted June 4 2017 - 3:22 PM

ctantkeeper

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I have recently obtained a bunch of Reticulitermes flavipes de-alate termites. They are of mixed sex (some are queens and some are kings) and they are currently being kept in standard test tube setups with damp sheets (slightly thicker than printer paper) of cardboard placed in inside. The first test tube currently contains 11 de-alates and one egg (I have had them for almost two days so far) and the second contains five de-alates and 2-3 eggs. Here is my short list of questions related to both of these colonies :

 

1. Are R. flavipes de-alates polygamous? I am aware that other species of termite will occasionally form colonies from several pairings instead of only one king and one queen. I figured that the same would apply here. If I am doing something completely wrong, PLEASE tell me. CT is home to only one species of termite, which seems to only stage one flight per year, meaning that I cannot collect more.

2. One of my de-alates in the first test tube setup is dying and it is not clear as to why that is. Is it possible that this particular termite only tolerates monogamous colonies and this was an act of cannibalism or did it die of something else entirely.

3. What setups do you guys use to keep termites (if you do in fact keep termites)? If there is any miscellaneous advice you might want to share, that would be greatly appreciated.



#2 Offline ctantkeeper - Posted June 5 2017 - 3:44 AM

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It turns out that the dying de-alate was in the process of being cannibalized by the other de-alates, so I decided to separate the de-alates that I had collected into four different test tubes, based on their interactions with one another. I will keep a close eye on them though. They are organized as follows :

 

1. 5 de-alates (at least 2 queens)

2. 4 de-alates (two queens, two kings)

3. 3 de-alates (undetermined, but at least one queen)

4. 2 dealates (king and queen)



#3 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted November 27 2017 - 12:33 PM

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I just realized that you posted this. Thanks for the 3 dealate colony!

 

1.If I'm correct, most subterranean termites will have numerous reproductives (normally multiple kings, but sometimes multiple queens)

 

2.Termite de-alates are very fragile. It is possible that one bit another due to a mistaken act of aggression (like Stigmatomma, some individuals don't take the time to read pheromonal cues).

 

3.I use test tubes, with a piece of cardboard as food. Same setup as yours :)

 

I know that these answers are late, but it may help another termite-keeper.


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