343 replies to this topic

[ponerinecat]

New scaber color morph

[ponerinecat]

Got new globular springtails, these are vey small and reddish orange with big eyes. Also found new porcellionides that are orange, and the armadillidium nasatum are actually all vulgare.

[ponerinecat]

Went looking for zebra springtails, didn't see any but did find two new springtails. One is the largest species i have, and ranges from grey to orange.

Second is another globular springtail, this one extremely small to the point where I have a hard time spotting them.

[ANTdrew]

I just added some new bluish grey springtails to my salad box set up on the patio. They congregate on the surface of my birdbath for some reason. I’ve seen this happen before on warm winter days. It seems like they are mating or something. Do you think this is accidental, or do they like grouping up on water surfaces for some reason? They can walk right over the surface tension, even jump.

Edited by ANTdrew, December 30 2019 - 11:19 AM.

[ponerinecat]

I just added some new bluish grey springtails to my salad box set up on the patio. They congregate on the surface of my birdbath for some reason. I’ve seen this happen before on warm winter days. It seems like they are mating or something. Do you think this is accidental, or do they like grouping up on water surfaces for some reason? They can walk right over the surface tension, even jump.

Very commonly seen, but I still love those types. My guess is the genus podura. Well known for living on the surface of water, I would suggest giving them a little bin of water with some rocks/wood protruding from the waters surface. They eat algae and dead arthropods on the water surface.

[ponerinecat]

Liometopum luctosum, first time seeing them here.

[ponerinecat]

Dictyoptera sp

[ponerinecat]

Dwarf whites had their first gen of babies.

[ponerinecat]

Found absolute giant springtails, getting close to 2 mm.

[AntsDakota]

Dwarf whites had their first gen of babies.

I used to keep massive colonies of isopods. I'd flip over rocks and collect them, and fed them leaf litter. I just hated it when I picked up pregnant ones, though. The thought of hundreds of them crawling onto my finger just wasn't that appealing.

[ponerinecat]

 

Dwarf whites had their first gen of babies.

I used to keep massive colonies of isopods. I'd flip over rocks and collect them, and fed them leaf litter. I just hated it when I picked up pregnant ones, though. The thought of hundreds of them crawling onto my finger just wasn't that appealing.

 

The thoughts actually pretty sad. Females only expel young when they feel they are in extreme danger, and even then the young usually don't make it without the protection of their mother. 

[AntsDakota]

Actually, the environment was enclosed, moist, and had plenty of food; very hospitable for isopods. Many of the young survived, as they could be seen feeding with the others. I actually find them quite cute if they aren't swarming all over my hand. 

Edited by AntsDakota, January 7 2020 - 3:34 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Actually, the environment was enclosed, moist, and had plenty of food; very hospitable for isopods. Many of the young survived, as they could be seen feeding with the others. I actually find them quite cute if they aren't swarming all over my hand. 

I meant when you picked them up.

[AntsDakota]

I dropped the mother into the enclosure with her young on her. I didn't directly harm any of them. I meant that I didn't want to have them crawling on my hand, and I didn't. 

[ponerinecat]

Brackenridgia sp

Found three. Basically our native dwarf whites.

Edited by ponerinecat, January 9 2020 - 7:57 PM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Nice. I'm hoping to get P. ornatus and P. expansus to add to my pod collection soon.

[ponerinecat]

Nice, I adore P. expansus. Our native equivalent is Ligia pallasii, a seaside species that needs salt water for survival.

[AntsDakota]

That looks so weird, and cool at the same time.

[ponerinecat]

Went to the local railroad, saw some ant loving springtails and lots of liometopum luctosum.

[ANTdrew]

Went looking for zebra springtails, didn't see any but did find two new springtails. One is the largest species i have, and ranges from grey to orange.

Second is another globular springtail, this one extremely small to the point where I have a hard time spotting them.

I just found some springtails like the large one pictured above. I added them to my set up, plus some of the spring beauty seeds in there are starting to germinate!