18 replies to this topic

[Manitobant]

I think it would be a lot easier for new wasp keepers such as myself to have all the wasp stuff put into either it’s own section completely or just add wasps to the bee keeping section in order to find journals and information about wasp keeping. Thanks!

[ponerinecat]

You may want to see how many people still keep wasps. I used to, but stopped.

also, put this in the improvements section.

[KBant]

Ill think about adding a wasp section... but it’s gonna be a no for me dawg

[gcsnelling]

We already have one, after all ants are just bloody funny wasps.

[TennesseeAnts]

We already have one, after all ants are just bloody funny wasps.

True actually.

[Studio]

I used to keep them years ago as well. I convinced my roommates it was for a college research project, otherwise they wouldn't have let me done it. I stopped for a while. 

They have such a huge protein demand and are extremely messy once you get around 10 or so wasps. Feeding was always a hassle, but wasps are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.

The wasps will eventually learn that every time you walk by or open the enclosure, there will be food. One of the biggest downsides for me was that it was always awkward when you're expecting guests. I ended up having to always hide them in the closet when I expected company.

 

Here are a few photos from 2012. At first the queen doesn't eat much and purposefully feeds her larvae very little in order to prevent a large worker from being born and taking her place.

 

At the time I was growing a pretty hefty amount of silkworms because of a mulberry tree that happened to be growing near our house. They surprisingly ate all of them and I had to order more.

 

They went 1 day without any protein source and they started cutting open pupae cells just to feed their own larvae. 1 DAY!

 

 

 

 

They aren't as scary as they are in the wild. They will eventually learn that you aren't gonna do them harm and can even work around the nest with your bare hands and they'll just sit there and watch you like a bunch of cats. Of course the newer workers usually freak out but I don't ever really need to reach near their nest.

Edited by Studio, May 8 2019 - 9:22 PM.

[VenomousBeast]

I think we should!! I've been catching wasps everywhere for the fast few years as well as hornets and I'd LOVE to get advice from others as well as share my info. It just doesn't seem to be many who do keep them but maybe if we make one we'll have more people interested!

[ponerinecat]

I want to see some one catch and rear parasitic wasps like velvet ants and cuckoo wasps.

[123LordOfAnts123]

Mutillidae are easy to keep. Small aquarium, some sand, maybe some decor. A water dish, and a dish for feeding. A heat lamp is appreciated by some species. I never fed anything but sugar water. Females will last a long time - I had a couple Dasymutilla occidentalis last a year and a half. You can mix and match different species and they all ignore each other for the most part. When they do get into squabbles it’s rather endearing to hear, as they stridulate and squeak at each other.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, May 14 2019 - 7:40 PM.

[ladle24]

My teenage son just started keeping a velvet ant, but we also have a number of ichneumonid wasps. Their host is the common black swallowtail caterpillar. As far as I know, we have 2 female wasps mated with one male, and both have laid eggs in the 5 or so caterpillars we have given them. The caterpillars are in a tank waiting to see if we have been successful--the adult wasps should emerge from the chrysalis instead of the butterfly.  I do not know how long the adult ichneumonid wasps live yet, but it is interesting watching the females hunt and lay eggs. The black swallowtails are easy to raise--they just eat fresh dill. 

 

I think my son is determined to catch cicada killer wasps and maybe dig up a burrow to see if he can find a host for his velvet ant. I don't think the female cicada killers have emerged yet though, even though the males are out. The question is WHEN to try to dig up the burrow--how old do the cicada killer larva need to be?

[dermy]

The problem with a wasp section is that there is really only maybe 3-5 people who keep wasps. I keep wasps, and have a Journal on the Off-Topic Journal board, I don't think at this time that wasps would be a big enough thing for their own board.

[Skwiggledork]

Just put it in the bee section. Most people can't tell the difference between a bee, wasp, or hornet.

[TennesseeAnts]

My teenage son just started keeping a velvet ant, but we also have a number of ichneumonid wasps. Their host is the common black swallowtail caterpillar. As far as I know, we have 2 female wasps mated with one male, and both have laid eggs in the 5 or so caterpillars we have given them. The caterpillars are in a tank waiting to see if we have been successful--the adult wasps should emerge from the chrysalis instead of the butterfly.  I do not know how long the adult ichneumonid wasps live yet, but it is interesting watching the females hunt and lay eggs. The black swallowtails are easy to raise--they just eat fresh dill. 
 
I think my son is determined to catch cicada killer wasps and maybe dig up a burrow to see if he can find a host for his velvet ant. I don't think the female cicada killers have emerged yet though, even though the males are out. The question is WHEN to try to dig up the burrow--how old do the cicada killer larva need to be?

There are a couple huge males flying around my yard right now. I'm very (I'm) patiently waiting for the females to come out. I caught a few last summer in August, but never kept them. I heard that velvet ants can use bumble bee larvae as a host for their eggs, but I don't know if this is true.

[AntsDakota]

There is a wasp nest outside my house that I enjoy watching. I can even see the brood in their nest. When I last checked, the queen got her first workers for this year (they all die in the fall).

[ponerinecat]

My teenage son just started keeping a velvet ant, but we also have a number of ichneumonid wasps. Their host is the common black swallowtail caterpillar. As far as I know, we have 2 female wasps mated with one male, and both have laid eggs in the 5 or so caterpillars we have given them. The caterpillars are in a tank waiting to see if we have been successful--the adult wasps should emerge from the chrysalis instead of the butterfly.  I do not know how long the adult ichneumonid wasps live yet, but it is interesting watching the females hunt and lay eggs. The black swallowtails are easy to raise--they just eat fresh dill. 

 

I think my son is determined to catch cicada killer wasps and maybe dig up a burrow to see if he can find a host for his velvet ant. I don't think the female cicada killers have emerged yet though, even though the males are out. The question is WHEN to try to dig up the burrow--how old do the cicada killer larva need to be?

I saw a cicada killer in china decapitate a cicada over the course of 10 minutes. The cicada was still alive.

[Skwiggledork]

Looks like a grass carrying wasp is the first to decide to use my bee hotel. I don't think I am going to "keep" them, but I am excited to see them.

[ponerinecat]

poor wasp... the parasite has been parasitized by mites. And hitchhiked by a pseudo scorpion.

[Canadant]

Just put it in the bee section. Most people can't tell the difference between a bee, wasp, or hornet.

Sadly, its true!!

[Martialis]

This is getting out of hand!

 

This is formiculture, not hymenoptraculture!

 

"The Off-topic" section is your wasp section.  

Edited by Martialis, August 31 2019 - 4:05 PM.