21 replies to this topic

[Alexant]

So i ordered a colony of Reticulitermes grassei from Anthouse.es which arrived yesterday. They have settled in nicely. The colony consists of about 100 workers and over 20 soldiers. There are also 2 or 3  Neotenic Nymph queens who are doing very well, one of which will become the new Queen. Also, there are many normal nymphs which is a good sign.

[Myrmicinae]

There are also 2 or 3  Neotenic Nymph queens who are doing very well, one of which will become the new Queen. Also, there are many normal nymphs which is a good sign.

 

What sort of setup do you have them in currently?  You will need a replacement king as well as queen to get the colony going.  I have been meaning to try to keep termites again, but they are definitely one of the more tricky social insects to culture.

 

Edit: Also, this post should be in the "Off-Topic Journals" section.

Edited by Myrmicinae, November 29 2015 - 8:05 PM.

[dspdrew]

Edit: Also, this post should be in the "Off-Topic Journals" section.

 

Thanks for pointing that out. Moved.

[Alexant]

Sorry for the long wait. I am keeping them in a small plastic formicarium. They actualy came in it. These termites are from Europe and even parts of devon, England, the country in which i live so they arent too bad. The workers can molt to form new kings and queens.

[Ants4fun]

Interesting. Pictures?

[Alexant]

The colony has produced an alate, currently the only colony member with pigment!

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Edited by Alexant, February 2 2016 - 7:41 AM.

[dspdrew]

That's pretty cool.

[Alexant]

Thanks. The workers are now chewing off her wings. I guess she is the new Queen although I assume she needs to mate. Not too sure how that will work.

[drtrmiller]

Thanks. The workers are now chewing off her wings. I guess she is the new Queen although I assume she needs to mate. Not too sure how that will work.

 

Or they're just hungry!

[Alexant]

They have had a bunch of food offered to the but they won't forage for it

[Alexant]

The alate has dissappeared overnight. I have a feeling she was killed. I saw a worker that was about to forage but changed its mind

[Alexant]

Another Alate has appeared. I will chech on it later.

[Alexant]

The workers seem to be more accepting of this alate. They havent even touched the wings. There are no other alate nymphs but I think the colony will do well. I hope they do get a queen. As cool as they are now, I think an actual queen will be much more interesting. Plus their black colour contrasts the white workers.

[Alexant]

This alate died too

[Alexant]

So, after the rise and fall of the alates I am left with no reproductive. However, this isn't the end as any of the colony's members can molt into a reproductive. There are many new nymphs, at about 1mm in size. The populations seems to be constant. One problem is that they aren't foraging which is a slight concern. As always, any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Alex

[Alexant]

They still aren't foraging or eating and they are dying and the population is dropping. Any help or advice?

[Subverted]

As far as I know termites don't really forage in the same way that we think of ants foraging?

 

If the wood you are trying to feed them isn't in their nest area they just ignore it, in my experience.

[Alexant]

Well that problem has been solved but another has revealed itself. They are storing their dead in the nest and mould has started to frow. Any help or advice?

[Alexant]

I am drying out the mold while trying to keep other parts of the nest slightly moist. It appears to be working but only time will tell

[Alexant]

Almost all are dead and the nest is next to useless. I feel that this journal will end soon.