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Termites? St. Louis, MO 6/1/18


Best Answer Skwiggledork , June 1 2018 - 5:27 PM

Looks like the termites I caught a few days ago. Had mine ID'd on a facebook group as eastern subterranean termites. I could be way off though.

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#1 Offline BMM - Posted June 1 2018 - 5:22 PM

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There were swarms of these outside my work today. The ground was literally coated with shed wings. They look like termites to me, but I wanted to make sure and find out the type and species if possible. I grabbed a dozen or so to use as ant treats. Sadly they had no tolerance for heat and died as I soon as I got in my car to drive home. They're all a dark brown to blackish color and about 5-7 mm long.

 

termites

 



#2 Offline Skwiggledork - Posted June 1 2018 - 5:27 PM   Best Answer

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Looks like the termites I caught a few days ago. Had mine ID'd on a facebook group as eastern subterranean termites. I could be way off though.



#3 Offline LC3 - Posted June 1 2018 - 5:45 PM

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The genus Reticulitermes (what these are) is really messy. There's something like 6 valid species across the US for what may be 26 species. Anyways is the 7mm including that of the wings?



#4 Offline Skwiggledork - Posted June 1 2018 - 5:59 PM

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So what kind of set up would be best to keep them in? lol



#5 Offline LC3 - Posted June 1 2018 - 6:16 PM

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Any container with substrate and access to cellulose (cardboard, softwoods or hardwoods with no toxins) kept between 68F - 77F and a humidity of around 80-90% should suffice. I've never experimented with rearing subterranean termites from imagoes but those should be their requirements. A test tube would probably work (just limit the water behind the cotton and seal tightly). A petri dish with a moist piece of cardboard fitted into it might also work.



#6 Offline BMM - Posted June 1 2018 - 7:44 PM

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Thanks for the feedback. Eastern subterranean termites looks like the right answer. I have no plans to keep any, but one of my ant colonies got a nice treat out of it.



#7 Offline LC3 - Posted June 1 2018 - 7:52 PM

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If the length from the head to the tip of the wings is around 7/8mm they are more likely Reticulitermes virginicus.



#8 Offline BMM - Posted June 1 2018 - 8:07 PM

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No, the length of the bodies was about 6 mm. With wings maybe around 10 mm.



#9 Offline LC3 - Posted June 1 2018 - 8:12 PM

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I see, definitely R. flavipes.




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