41 replies to this topic

[Nare]

And is there anywhere I could get nymphs from?

Reticulitermes can develop ergatoid reproductives, ergatoid meaning worker-like. These develop from normal workers. You can check out more accurate life cycle diagrams on the termite links page in my signature.

[AntsDakota]

 

And is there anywhere I could get nymphs from?

Reticulitermes can develop ergatoid reproductives, ergatoid meaning worker-like. These develop from normal workers. You can check out more accurate life cycle diagrams on the termite links page in my signature.

 

Ok, that makes more sense. Can these have multiple ergatoid reproductives (of each sex, of course).

[AntsDakota]

Wait- then those third form reproductives would lay eggs, which would develop into nymphs, and those nymphs could develop into primary reproductives? Am I correct?

[Nare]

Wait- then those third form reproductives would lay eggs, which would develop into nymphs, and those nymphs could develop into primary reproductives? Am I correct?

A colony can have multiple secondary and tertiary reproductives, yes. If you grow the colony large enough, it will likely produce primary reproductives, but these don't usually mate in the nest. You'd have to remove them and pair them up manually. It's possible you'll get secondary reproductives though, which are essentially the same as primaries but without ever having wings / dark pigment.

[AntsDakota]

 

Wait- then those third form reproductives would lay eggs, which would develop into nymphs, and those nymphs could develop into primary reproductives? Am I correct?

A colony can have multiple secondary and tertiary reproductives, yes. If you grow the colony large enough, it will likely produce primary reproductives, but these don't usually mate in the nest. You'd have to remove them and pair them up manually. It's possible you'll get secondary reproductives though, which are essentially the same as primaries but without ever having wings / dark pigment.

 

And if I paired them up and kept them apart for a couple weeks and let them mate, would the colony accept them back? It's fine if they don't, I was just wondering. (p.s.- I like the diversity of the termite reproductive castes; I wish ants had 'sub-gynes', so to speak.  )

[AntsDakota]

I found it funny that the same website that said that these can't reproduce also said some culture include nymphs, which could molt directly into primary reproductives. This, to me, says they don't know completely what they're talking about. 

[Nare]

 

 

Wait- then those third form reproductives would lay eggs, which would develop into nymphs, and those nymphs could develop into primary reproductives? Am I correct?

A colony can have multiple secondary and tertiary reproductives, yes. If you grow the colony large enough, it will likely produce primary reproductives, but these don't usually mate in the nest. You'd have to remove them and pair them up manually. It's possible you'll get secondary reproductives though, which are essentially the same as primaries but without ever having wings / dark pigment.

 

And if I paired them up and kept them apart for a couple weeks and let them mate, would the colony accept them back? It's fine if they don't, I was just wondering. (p.s.- I like the diversity of the termite reproductive castes; I wish ants had 'sub-gynes', so to speak.  )

 

I'm not sure they'd accept them back. Maybe in some of the inbred populations up here, but likely not in your colony. I think some species of ants have ergatoid queens, but ants certainly aren't as flexible as termites in their reproductive castes. That's mainly cause termites molt, whereas once an ant ecloses, it's done.

 

I found it funny that the same website that said that these can't reproduce also said some culture include nymphs, which could molt directly into primary reproductives. This, to me, says they don't know completely what they're talking about. 

Could be. These supply companies offer hundreds or thousands of products, so it's understandable perhaps that they aren't experts on every single product.

[AntsDakota]

Thanks for all the info. It's very helpful. And now, I just have a couple more questions, and I'll be done:

 

1. How fast do colonies themselves grow?

2. How long does the life cycle take

   a. from egg to worker

   b. from egg to soldier

   c. from egg to reproductive?

3. Do termites require hibernation?

 

Thanks.

[Nare]

Thanks for all the info. It's very helpful. And now, I just have a couple more questions, and I'll be done:

 

1. How fast do colonies themselves grow?

2. How long does the life cycle take

   a. from egg to worker

   b. from egg to soldier

   c. from egg to reproductive?

3. Do termites require hibernation?

 

Thanks.

1. Takes ages from a founding pair, but a colony splinter should grow decently fast. Growth really depends on how much wood and space you give them.
2. a. about a month or two in my experience with a founding pair. Likely faster with a colony segment, but I haven't been able to consistently observe development in a colony fragment.

    b. a soldier is only 2 or 3 molts farther along from a worker, but only about 1% of the colony will be soldiers. A worker can likely molt into a soldier pretty fast, but this will only happen once the number of soldiers passes below a critical threshold and the colony determines that more soldiers are needed.

    c. depends on the reproductive, I'd say 2 or 3 months is a fair estimate. You can follow the progress of some colony fragments in my journal, especially in the earlier part.

3. No hibernation needed, although they may take a break from laying eggs during the winter. This likely depends on where the termites are from, however.

 

Hope that helps.

[Canadian anter]

Just a note, Ant_Dude sells rets I believe

[ANTdrew]

Nare, I have an empty Sabra hummus container that I’d like to try to fashion into a poor man’s Termitat. https://sabra.com
I will fill most of it with hydrostone leaving a thin open space I’ll fill with soil and wood. I’ll also make hydration and ventilation holes. Do you foresee any problems with this idea? Could the Reticulitermes chew through such thin plastic?

[TennesseeAnts]

Nare, I have an empty Sabra hummus container that I’d like to try to fashion into a poor man’s Termitat. https://sabra.com
I will fill most of it with hydrostone leaving a thin open space I’ll fill with soil and wood. I’ll also make hydration and ventilation holes. Do you foresee any problems with this idea? Could the Reticulitermes chew through such thin plastic?

They would probably chew through that plastic.

[ANTdrew]

Here's my twist on this concept using an empty Sabra hummus container:

 

I poked micro-holes in the lid with a thin needle and made a hydration hole that I plugged with a rubber stopper. I think I'll hydrate from the bottom, but let me know if hydrating from the top is better.

 

I filled the main part of the container with a mix of hydrostone and perlite:

 

There is about a 1/4 inch gap between the top lid and the hydrostone bottom. Should I go for a thinner gap to increase visibility? I fill this with a slice of wood surrounded by some soil.

 

I will prop the set up upright on a picture frame stand. What do you think?

 

 

[Nare]

 

Here's my twist on this concept using an empty Sabra hummus container:

 

 

I poked micro-holes in the lid with a thin needle and made a hydration hole that I plugged with a rubber stopper. I think I'll hydrate from the bottom, but let me know if hydrating from the top is better.

 

 

I filled the main part of the container with a mix of hydrostone and perlite:

 

 

There is about a 1/4 inch gap between the top lid and the hydrostone bottom. Should I go for a thinner gap to increase visibility? I fill this with a slice of wood surrounded by some soil.

 

I will prop the set up upright on a picture frame stand. What do you think?

 

 

 

1/4 inch should be fine, you'll likely see lots of termites depending on how many you add. Hydration should be fine, I don't think they'll try to escape through those holes. They certainly don't try to escape in through the gap in my dish. Interested to see how it goes - keep us updated.

[ANTdrew]

I caught two alates today, and they quickly shed wings and coupled up. I put them in a test tube with sand and rotten wood.

[Antkid12]

I caught two alates today, and they quickly shed wings and coupled up. I put them in a test tube with sand and rotten wood.

I caught some today too, but mostly just fed them to my ants.

[mmcguffi]

Any chance you can fix the pics in this @Nare?  

[DDD101DDD]

Any chance you can fix the pics in this @Nare?

Nare disappeared a while ago.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

Any chance you can fix the pics in this @Nare?

Nare disappeared a while ago.

 

sadly

[mmcguffi]

 

Any chance you can fix the pics in this @Nare?

Nare disappeared a while ago.

 

I mean, they haven't posted on a forum in 3 months, I would hardly call that disappearing 

 

FYI if you google image search "Terminareum" the images were cached by google -- good SEO foresight by @ANTdrew haha

Edited by mmcguffi, November 9 2020 - 3:28 PM.