64 replies to this topic

[Zeiss]

Those have to be beetle eggs.  Backswimmer eggs are too long for that.  Those definitely aren't frog eggs.  I am certain they are beetle eggs.

[MegaMyrmex]

The whirligig beetle looks more like a diving beetle since whirligigs have shorter back legs and longer front legs.

Edited by MegaMyrmex, June 28 2018 - 7:59 PM.

[Zeiss]

The whirligig beetle looks more like a diving beetle since whirligigs have shorter back legs and longer front legs.

He did catch some tiny diving beetles, at least I think he was able to get them in his hand (they were fast and tiny), but the ones that spin around in circles in little groups are definitely whirligig beetles.  Diving beetles do not behave as such, at least I believe they don't.

Edited by Zeiss, June 28 2018 - 11:21 PM.

[dspdrew]

Plants have really been taking over in this thing. I added some of these nice little ground-cover type plants I find growing under water in the local creeks, and they grow like crazy. I have to keep trimming them back once a month to keep it from turning into a jungle. I also added more creeping myrtle, which seems to be doing pretty well this time around. The most exciting thing that has happened is the fern gametophytes have finally grown some mature fronds. I've been waiting about five years for this fern to grow. Once it started, roots grew all over and now they're popping up everywhere.

 

I added some more Whirligig Beetles I caught on my black light while collecting queen ants about two and a half months ago, and they are all still alive and well. I think the lack of predators this time might be allowing them to live longer. I hope they'll actually breed in there.

 

 

 

 

[neoponera]

you should trim it down

a bit