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Termites, Help

Started By Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* , Feb 20 2022 9:40 PM

Best Answer ItalianTermiteMan2.0 , March 25 2022 - 6:53 AM

I confirm Cryptotermes, more precisely Cryptotermes cavifrons, a species endemic to Florida whose soldiers can be easily distinguished from those of the invasive C. brevis by their dorsally smooth head capsule. Unlike C. brevis, which is a serious pest that can cause significant damage, C. cavifrons is seldom ever reported to even just nest in man-made structures despite being very common in nature. Also in contrast to C. brevis, which can live with virtually no water, they require more moisture. You can obtain secondary royals by isolating a population of pseudergates (false workers) from their royal pair; these termites developes very slowly though.

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#1 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 20 2022 - 9:40 PM

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Hello,
I am relatively new to termite keeping.

So today, I was walking looking for Camponotus pensyvanicus queens, and I came across a one foot stick. I snap it half, hoping to find a colony or queen, to find termite. I took the stick dumped the termites out, and found on nymph, one termite with a dark head and mandibles, and 20+ termites who have unnoticeable wings and elongated gsters. I only got half of them, as I didn’t want to leave my containers behind(which I was carrying), so I got home and made a test tube, filled it up with some water, and put Cotten down it to give them moisture. I also plugged it with Cotten an put some of their original wood in it.

1) Are These queens?(pics at request)

2) Hiw often should I check in them?

3) Is te termite with a black head a male?

4) Can these workers(if not queens) become queens and males in captivity?

5) how long until they will get at least 100 workers?

6) Can the Cotten stop them?

7) can the winged feemites(barely noticeable but send a reflection) fly? Note, they are 1/3 of body length.

8) if these are queens, how king will they live?

9-Sorry for long posts. Ty for reading this far

#2 Offline SYUTEO - Posted February 20 2022 - 11:13 PM

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1. It's best to send a picture for identification.

 

2. Once every few days and avoid shining a bright light into their setup.

 

3. Queen and king termites look almost identical so it's most likely a soldier.

 

4. Depends on the species.

 

5. It can take a few months to a year or more depending on the species, temperature etc.

 

6. Probably not as they often borrow into the cotton and will most likely drown in the water.

 

7. They can but only fly during nuptial flights (obviously).

 

8. Both kings and queens usually live up to 10 years or more.

 

Do note that it can vary from a lot of factors.


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#3 Online ANTdrew - Posted February 21 2022 - 4:46 AM

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Read Nare’s guide to termite keeping. It’s all in there.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 21 2022 - 6:42 AM

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Won’t be able to get picture of soldier,(Or possibly a different species of queen and males) but will post a pic in 5-30 minutes

#5 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 21 2022 - 6:49 AM

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You can kind of see solier in one pic, and in the other is more detailed.(Red circle is his head)

Attached Images

  • 41645512-00D1-4CD7-B939-A38E0822E11F.jpeg
  • 78A3DCF2-D233-4BBE-B977-0A1935BBD428.jpeg
  • 6A5BF8E6-6727-437B-B0CF-CF883EA4A407.jpeg

#6 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 21 2022 - 10:51 AM

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Also, they aren’t in a test tube setup. I did something I saw a YouTuber do, which gives them humidity, but there is no water reserve.
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#7 Offline SYUTEO - Posted February 21 2022 - 6:28 PM

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They seem to be a Cryptotermes sp, they are drywood termites and don't need much humidity to survive.


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Began antkeeping in 2018  :)

 

All ant journal: https://www.formicul...os-ant-journal/

#8 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 21 2022 - 6:54 PM

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Is the long one a queen?
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#9 Offline SYUTEO - Posted February 21 2022 - 10:45 PM

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Is the long one a queen?

It's probably a reproductive termite that hasn't reached it's last molt yet.


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Began antkeeping in 2018  :)

 

All ant journal: https://www.formicul...os-ant-journal/

#10 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 22 2022 - 3:14 AM

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So, after it has molted for the last time, will they mate with the others I caught
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#11 Offline SYUTEO - Posted February 22 2022 - 7:16 AM

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They won't mate with their own siblings and only mate during their nuptial flight. It may also be a termite with a swollen abdomen full of food.


Edited by SYUTEO, February 22 2022 - 7:16 AM.

Began antkeeping in 2018  :)

 

All ant journal: https://www.formicul...os-ant-journal/

#12 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 22 2022 - 1:12 PM

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So with these I can’t get a colony?
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#13 Online ANTdrew - Posted February 22 2022 - 1:45 PM

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So with these I can’t get a colony?

Did you read Nare’s guide yet?
https://www.formicul...es/#entry101485

Edited by ANTdrew, February 22 2022 - 1:51 PM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#14 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 22 2022 - 2:30 PM

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I read most of it except distribution and finding

#15 Offline SYUTEO - Posted February 22 2022 - 5:55 PM

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So with these I can’t get a colony?

It depends on the species. Not sure if Nare's guide will work on Cryptotermes since it's for subterranean termites and Cryptotermes are drywood termites (Kalotermitidae) but have to try to find out.


Began antkeeping in 2018  :)

 

All ant journal: https://www.formicul...os-ant-journal/

#16 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 23 2022 - 4:18 PM

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But what is interesting is I found other spp. of termites under them. Subterranean but I didn’t catch them

#17 Offline ItalianTermiteMan2.0 - Posted March 25 2022 - 6:53 AM   Best Answer

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I confirm Cryptotermes, more precisely Cryptotermes cavifrons, a species endemic to Florida whose soldiers can be easily distinguished from those of the invasive C. brevis by their dorsally smooth head capsule. Unlike C. brevis, which is a serious pest that can cause significant damage, C. cavifrons is seldom ever reported to even just nest in man-made structures despite being very common in nature. Also in contrast to C. brevis, which can live with virtually no water, they require more moisture. You can obtain secondary royals by isolating a population of pseudergates (false workers) from their royal pair; these termites developes very slowly though.


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