2121 replies to this topic

[Connectimyrmex]

It is nearly impossible to find the main termite nests. However, you can find termite satellite colonies under rocks, logs, and leaf litter, with nymphs, workers, and all. If you do come across one, I would collect maybe thirty or so workers, and collect a king and queen from the same nest during flight season to top off the "colony". (make sure you get at least one king and one queen!)

[noebl1]

My A. rudis and some of my Fall Lasius are starting to eclose!  Still not 100% on their ID yet.  Also my Crematogaster are getting close too; very excited about these.

 

Time to prep a thread to start offloading queens in MA.

[Connectimyrmex]

Nice!

I'm still waiting for my Lasius queen's pupa to eclose.

[noebl1]

Nice!

I'm still waiting for my Lasius queen's pupa to eclose.

 

For some reason of the dozen or so queens I got last Fall, three of them laid before hibernation and apparently had made it to the larval stages to survive hibernation.  First time I've seen Lasius lay before hibernation (besides L. alienus), but not unheard of.

 

I've also finally been able to print with flexible filament, so my test tube stoppers I use in my mini-outworlds can be a bit more snug without risking breaking the test tube.  This is one of my earlier rough prints to make sure it was possible, later ones came out much better (but I was too lazy to take a pic):

 

It's weird stuff as feels like printing with spider webs when cleaning the nozzle off as stringy, stretchy and sticky.  But cool stuff!  Having a bowden printer I didn't think I could do it, but it works.  Really only issue is it sticks to much to the bed.

[Aquaexploder]

If you don't mind me asking, what printer are you using?

[noebl1]

If you don't mind me asking, what printer are you using?

 

I don't mind at all!  I built a D-Bot Core XY printer ( https://www.thingive...m/thing:1001065) with a few modifications to make it larger and such.

 

I know a bunch of the guys here use the CR-10 printer and love it.  There's something to be said about buying a printer vs DIY as I found it took a lot of adjusting and experimenting before I was happy with the results.

[Aquaexploder]

If you don't mind me asking, what printer are you using?

 
I don't mind at all!  I built a D-Bot Core XY printer ( https://www.thingive...m/thing:1001065) with a few modifications to make it larger and such.
 
I know a bunch of the guys here use the CR-10 printer and love it.  There's something to be said about buying a printer vs DIY as I found it took a lot of adjusting and experimenting before I was happy with the results.

Cool! Unfortunately I'm not the type of person to have that much patience so I bought a Robo R1 Plus. It is a very good beginner printer, but I just wish it had a higher print resolution.

[noebl1]

Rumors are Nylandria sp flying in Boston today.

 

What resolution is it missing?  The Robo R1 Plus looks pretty good.

[Aquaexploder]

Its just that when I try to make a print that has multiple pieces that are meant to fit together, I need to sand them down in order to get them to connect.

[Aquaexploder]

Currently printing a new formicarium! I'll post pictures when it finishes.

[noebl1]

Currently printing a new formicarium! I'll post pictures when it finishes.

 

Can't wait to see the pics!

 

My Lasius look like L. neoniger and *maybe* L. alienus.  I need to get some serious macro shots, but she laid before hibernation, and she's noticeably smaller than the other queens.  In the past I've observed the local L. alienus queens are smaller compared to the other local Lasius queens, however there is variation in queens, so this isn't a perfect way to tell.  The majority of my other Lasius queens now have pupae, that was fast as was just larvae a few days ago. Should be able to get a better idea what they are in the June/July time frame I bet.

 

My 2016 Tetramorium colony has an insatiable appetite.  No matter how much I give them, it's not enough. Their brood pile is getting huge as well...  Last year I starved them a bit so didn't grow fast, but ballooned this year...

[Aquaexploder]

 

So as you can see it turned out pretty well, and to be honest much better then I ever expected. There was some warping as expected (it doesn't look that bad in person), but overall I am really happy with the results. I found the STL on thingiverse and I like the idea of it being modular because I feel that it will be handy to just slide on a piece in the future as my colonies grow in order to expand the nest. 

Edited by Aquaexploder, May 13 2018 - 6:50 AM.

[noebl1]

Looks pretty good!  You printing in PLA or ABS?  ABS warps I find, but PLA tends to warp less for me.  It looks pretty superficial anyways

 

I have to use a decent bed covering (whether BuildTak or PEI sheets), and that helps me with bed sticking.

[Aquaexploder]

Looks pretty good!  You printing in PLA or ABS?  ABS warps I find, but PLA tends to warp less for me.  It looks pretty superficial anyways

 

I have to use a decent bed covering (whether BuildTak or PEI sheets), and that helps me with bed sticking.

For this print I used ABS. The print bed on the printer is made of glass and one of the methods the manufacturer recommends for adhesion is just to use a simple Elmer's glue glue stick and apply an even coat to the bed.

[noebl1]

Try printing with PLA... I tried for 2 years with ABS, and finally switched to PLA or PET-G... and life was better   PLA does lift like that at all.  If you really want to print ABS, check out PEI sheets on Amazon with 3M adhesive on them already; I found ABS sticks really well to PEI.  You can also do an ABS slurry (acetone with ABS melted in it).

[Aquaexploder]

Try printing with PLA... I tried for 2 years with ABS, and finally switched to PLA or PET-G... and life was better   PLA does lift like that at all.  If you really want to print ABS, check out PEI sheets on Amazon with 3M adhesive on them already; I found ABS sticks really well to PEI.  You can also do an ABS slurry (acetone with ABS melted in it).

Thanks for the information! Will definitely try PLA in the future.

[noebl1]

 

Try printing with PLA... I tried for 2 years with ABS, and finally switched to PLA or PET-G... and life was better   PLA does lift like that at all.  If you really want to print ABS, check out PEI sheets on Amazon with 3M adhesive on them already; I found ABS sticks really well to PEI.  You can also do an ABS slurry (acetone with ABS melted in it).

Thanks for the information! Will definitely try PLA in the future.

 

 

 

I meant to say it doesn't lift like ABS.. oh well.  This is what I usually get:

https://www.amazon.c...L70_&dpSrc=srch

They have a bunch of sizes as well.  Only about 1mm thick, so not hard to adjust most printers, especially if they support bed leveling.

 

I used to use BuildTak (I still have a few sheets), but much prefer PEI now that they sell PEI sheets with adhesive built in.  PEI tends to be more durable I find and sticks overall better, though your experience may vary.

 

Tues or Thurs looks like next possible days for flights.  Though still betting another 2 weeks+ until a large Camponotus flight IMHO.

 

Looks like my Ponera queen finally died.  She would eat, but never laid, so may not have been fertile.  I'll try again next year, and this time change out the coconut fiber/sand mixture for perlite as it doesn't mold and can see the ants better.

 

Noticed a funny reason why queens should remove their wings, I noticed one of the Crematogaster queens has some of her eggs stuck to her wings    Fortunately looks like in a couple weeks her pupae will be eclosing anyways to take care of her/them.

Edited by noebl1, May 13 2018 - 5:20 PM.

[Connectimyrmex]

Guys, the termites haven't flown yet, but I found maybe a trillion alates under a rock. My gecko and ants feasted. Unfortunately, I saw a mite on one of them, I hope that they didn't pick up anything. 

 

Also, Polistes, Vespula, and Bombus are nesting right now, get them while you can (before the workers come!)!

 

Also, @ Noeb, that stinks  
I've had some bad luck with Ponera too.

The Crematogaster thing is a bit funny, that happens with my termites sometimes. 

[Myrmidon]

I believe I saw a termite dealate yesterday afternoon wandering about but it was alone so I don't think it will be very successful. Not sure if that was any indicator of anything. I've only just recently started reading up on them now that it's been added to the boards and I think it looked like a R. flavipes variety. I know there is/are colonies of those around here and I see them when I turnover rocks at times. I should have caught it but I'm still working on the anting thing before I cross over so I left it up to nature.

[noebl1]

I'll take note of termite alates this year when I see them, often during the summer I'll see them at night while looking for ant alates.