35 replies to this topic

[Subverted]

I had dampwoods for a few years running...its much easier to start out with collecting part of a colony than to found a whole new one.

 

Here are a couple pics: https://www.flickr.c...ted/3927864523/  https://www.flickr.c...ted/4196298743/

[dspdrew]

Yeah, that seems to be the way everybody who has ever had a good colony of them got theirs.

[William. T]

Agreed. I went into the forest and brought home a 6 pound log.

[Myrmicinae]

I had dampwoods for a few years running...its much easier to start out with collecting part of a colony than to found a whole new one.

 

Here are a couple pics: https://www.flickr.c...ted/3927864523/  https://www.flickr.c...ted/4196298743/

 

Does your setup allow for observation of the termites?

[dermy]

The looks of that setup reminds me of the kind reptile users keep theirs for Feeders.

[Subverted]

Does your setup allow for observation of the termites?

 

At one point I was grabbing termites out of it every day to use as feeders for spiders, scorpions, and etc. Dermy had the right idea. I wasnt planning for them to be easy to observe, they did build a few tunnels against the plastic that you could see them through.

[antsinmypants]

I just picked up about 8 or so damp wood termites from the Shaver Lake area today. I should have picked up more but I was too exhausted tearing up bark with a small wrecking bar in the summer sun. It's amazing how fine motor skills are lost when big muscle groups are exhausted. Next time, I'm going to need a bigger wrecking bar. Nevertheless, I got a pair of soldiers and the rest are nymphs or something like that. In addition to adding a moist cotton ball into a plastic Costco Kirkland Mixed Nuts container with air holes poked in the top, is there something else I need to add to the set up? I collected their damp wood substrate and have already added it to this cheap, make-shift set-up. It's about 80 degrees in the house this time of year. 

[ToeNhi]

Antsinmypants,

You should get some untreated wood from a home improvement store instead of using the wood you find in the wild. Last year I collected over 70 from one branch, and another 50 from a large log. I kept the 70 in a large glass jar with pieces of their branch hoping some of the nymphs would turn into reproductives. Within a few weeks, they all died and their bodies covered with mold and spores. I suspect it had something to do with the branch. The 50, I used as feeders for my ant colonies, so I placed them in a small plastic box with a splinter of wood I found around the house. They lasted for a long time, and one developed wings.

Since you only found eight, I would freeze them and feed them to your Pogonomyrmex with brood.

[Vendayn]

Is there an easier way to get dampwood termites, than using a metal bar? A shovel (its a good one) could work too, right? My parents don't want to drive around with a metal bar of any kind (or wrecking bar, I need to see what that is) when doing stormchasing. I can take a shovel and bags for termites.

 

Are Dampwood termites only in large pieces of wood? Or can I find them in easier to carry wood, too? I've been up in the mountains a lot, but I've actually never even seen Dampwood termites. A lot of subterranean ones, but no Dampwood. Maybe I need to look near steams or something.

[William. T]

Is there an easier way to get dampwood termites, than using a metal bar? A shovel (its a good one) could work too, right? My parents don't want to drive around with a metal bar of any kind (or wrecking bar, I need to see what that is) when doing stormchasing. I can take a shovel and bags for termites.

 

Are Dampwood termites only in large pieces of wood? Or can I find them in easier to carry wood, too? I've been up in the mountains a lot, but I've actually never even seen Dampwood termites. A lot of subterranean ones, but no Dampwood. Maybe I need to look near steams or something.

You can use an aspirator. When I shatter the nest, many termites fall out.

[Vendayn]

That could work.

 

What about wood they live in. Assuming it has to be "damp" wood. I've gone up to the mountains a lot, and never see any. Like I said, I just find western subterranean termites up in the mountains...not once have I found dampwood termites. I've been up on palomar mountain (that was before the huge fires up there), julian/pine valley in the San Diego mountains. And I go up to Sattleback mountain a lot off the Ortega highway between Orange County and Riverside, and never see any up there either. Are they not in those mountains or am I just not looking in the right place? Cause I'm good at finding subterranean termites...not much else as far as termites go.

[William. T]

That could work.

 

What about wood they live in. Assuming it has to be "damp" wood. I've gone up to the mountains a lot, and never see any. Like I said, I just find western subterranean termites up in the mountains...not once have I found dampwood termites. I've been up on palomar mountain (that was before the huge fires up there), julian/pine valley in the San Diego mountains. And I go up to Sattleback mountain a lot off the Ortega highway between Orange County and Riverside, and never see any up there either. Are they not in those mountains or am I just not looking in the right place? Cause I'm good at finding subterranean termites...not much else as far as termites go.

You must turn over many logs before you find termites.

[kellakk]

I still have at least 3 reproductives left.  How did yours die, Drew?

[dspdrew]

I don't know. They were just dead in the tube one day.

[dspdrew]

I found a few more of these the other day in Angelus Oaks, CA, and I put them in the little termitarium I made for the subterranean termites, but I found them all dead today. I think there might be something wrong with that thing, except there are springtails living in it just fine, so I don't know...

[Alza]

I feel like you should try test tubes again, they are honestly the safest method.