343 replies to this topic

[TheMicroPlanet]

They're actually melting? Yikes. That sounds like a horrible way to die.

[ponerinecat]

Yup...

[AntsDakota]

Is something dissolving their exoskeletons, or something?

[ponerinecat]

Nope. The thing is their exoskeletons are soft, they're dying and then kind of leaking out.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Part of me wants pictures of this, but part of me wants to not barf.

[ponerinecat]

Moved the Calicina to a better setup for any future babies.

 

Some watermelon globs from my front yards sidewalk.

 

 

As for my isopods, they're pumping out babies.

 

[ponerinecat]

Good news! My Porcellio laevis have finally decided to not eat each other and have popped open, lots of little babies in there now.

[ponerinecat]

I've managed to find a single Ortholasma sp, an opiliones that is quite rare and has been on my checklist ever since I found out about it.

 

[TheMicroPlanet]

It's exoskeleton is so... intricate. It looks like a sculpture or something, like a work of art.

[ponerinecat]

It's exoskeleton is so... intricate. It looks like a sculpture or something, like a work of art.

Yup, that's what I love about it. Pay attention to the nose like protrusion, all those little marks are actually slits. I see no reason why this could have developed, but its beautiful nonetheless.

Edited by ponerinecat, May 6 2020 - 11:54 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Pcat-
Last week I put a bunch of dry rice and nutritional yeast flakes in my springtailarium. Now there’s a big mold outbreak over all the soil. Is that a problem or is that just more food for my springtails? Should I air out the salad box they’re in?

Edited by ANTdrew, May 8 2020 - 3:42 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Pcat-
Last week I put a bunch of dry rice and nutritional yeast flakes in my springtailarium. Now there’s a big mold outbreak over all the soil. Is that a problem or is that just more food for my springtails? Should I air out the salad box they’re in?

Sorry for the late reply, dunno if I'm to late to help, but mold problems depend on sp. The more sensitive types, like my globulars, die in a day or two when exposed to certain molds. Meanwhile for generalists like my Folsomia sp, they just live in the mold and eat it all over time. I would say take it out unless you're certain they can indeed handle it.

[ANTdrew]

Thanks, Pcat. The two species seem to be fine in the container, but I opened the lid to air it out a bit. I want to get more of my tiny springtails in with my Formica, but I don’t want to introduce a bunch of mold spores with them, hmmm.

[ponerinecat]

Small update, the brackenridgia have bred again, and I'm testing cardboard in isopod tubs. So far the only ones that seem to like it in mass amounts are the armadillidium. It provides extra space for the already crowded tub and the isopods can chew on it. Also started attempting to breed camel crickets, have 6-7 individuals split evenly into males and females. They seem like they would be good feeders. I'm also culling my springtail collection, largely due to the repetitive failure of a few species. Ill be keeping the ones that work for now and slowly adding more when I figure out proper care.

[ponerinecat]

The crickets have laid eggs! The femakele extrudes a white balloon like organ, presumably to attract males, and instead of chirping males just vibrate.

[Thunder_Birds]

I've managed to find a single Ortholasma sp, an opiliones that is quite rare and has been on my checklist ever since I found out about it.

 

Wow, I’m just going to say that’s a freaky lookin spider. I have never seen that before. How big is it? 

[AntsDakota]

 

I've managed to find a single Ortholasma sp, an opiliones that is quite rare and has been on my checklist ever since I found out about it.

 

Wow, I’m just going to say that’s a freaky lookin spider. I have never seen that before. How big is it? 

 

I don't think that's a spider. And most of his inverts are pretty small.

[ANTdrew]

The crickets have laid eggs! The femakele extrudes a white balloon like organ, presumably to attract males, and instead of chirping males just vibrate.

That’s amazing; camel crickets have three times the meat on them as normal crickets. It’s like a Thanksgiving turkey vs an old farm hen on her last legs.

Edited by ANTdrew, May 12 2020 - 8:30 AM.

[ponerinecat]

 

The crickets have laid eggs! The femakele extrudes a white balloon like organ, presumably to attract males, and instead of chirping males just vibrate.

That’s amazing; camel crickets have three times the meat on them as normal crickets. It’s like a Thanksgiving turkey vs an old farm hen on her last legs.

 

Yup, should be great feeders. They're nocturnal and sluggish in the day as well.

[ponerinecat]

 

 

I've managed to find a single Ortholasma sp, an opiliones that is quite rare and has been on my checklist ever since I found out about it.

 

Wow, I’m just going to say that’s a freaky lookin spider. I have never seen that before. How big is it? 

 

I don't think that's a spider. And most of his inverts are pretty small.

 

It's a harvestmen, scientifically known as opiliones. This ones actually decent sized, body is maybe 4 mm not including the legs.