180 replies to this topic

[Kaelwizard]

i have wanted spiders from the genus Micrathena for a while now (i also keep spiders)

I can confirm you don't want to keep those. I have LOADS of these spiders at a nearby forest and they don't do anything.

Oh

[DaveJay]

i have wanted spiders from the genus Micrathena for a while now (i also keep spiders)

I can confirm you don't want to keep those. I have LOADS of these spiders at a nearby forest and they don't do anything.

Orb spiders in general need a lot of room but it can be done. They are a sit and wait predator so they are not expected to do much, sit and wait predators don't expend energy unless prey is present.
This species has a life span of one year and is dormant in winter so the window in which to catch them being active would be pretty small!

[Kaelwizard]

 

 

i have wanted spiders from the genus Micrathena for a while now (i also keep spiders)

 

I can confirm you don't want to keep those. I have LOADS of these spiders at a nearby forest and they don't do anything.

Orb spiders in general need a lot of room but it can be done. They are a sit and wait predator so they are not expected to do much, sit and wait predators don't expend energy unless prey is present.
This species has a life span of one year and is dormant in winter so the window in which to catch them being active would be pretty small!

 

I know. 

[Major]

Not ready to get into spider keeping yet. Let's save that for another day.

[Kaelwizard]

Not ready to get into spider keeping yet. Let's save that for another day.

ok   

[Major]

So I will probably be trading some of my ants with a couple people. I also might be buying a colony if anything I'm interested in goes up for sale. Never thought I'd pay money for ants before

Just bought Drew's starter Formicarium, pretty excited for it to come. I just have no idea which of my colonys to put in it. I may be trading for some Brachyamyrmex and Crematogaster, probably one of those will get the Formicarium. Any suggestions?

[Major]

I went blacklighting yesterday to no avail, I know for a fact that there were some Brachyamyrmex flight since I saw some alates, I even caught a queen but dropped her.

[Major]

Went blacklighting yesterday and found a Termite Queen Alate. Not much she can do without a male, I'll probably give her away or release her.

[Skwiggledork]

I wonder if termite queens are polygynous.

Edited by Skwiggledork, August 29 2018 - 6:26 AM.

[Major]

I wonder if termite queens are polygynous.

I think some species are. But it would be sorta weird to only have 2 queens and 1 male. The male would pick only one female. You'd probably need 2 Females and 2 males

[Nare]

Went blacklighting yesterday and found a Termite Queen Alate. Not much she can do without a male, I'll probably give her away or release her.

Well hey, that's a start. I recommend you return to the area that you found the alate and look in cracks and crevasses for mated pairs.

[Major]

I already gave her to someone.

[Major]

Everyone who follows this journal, expect to see some new stuff tommorow...

Edited by Major, August 30 2018 - 5:16 AM.

[Major]

As promised! The new stuff!

So I traded off my Temnothorax Curvispinosus, 1 Yellow Lasius queen, and a lone Termite Queen for a Brachyamyrmex Depilis queen and wait for it, an 8 worker Crematogaster (Cerasi or Lineotela?) colony's with Skwiggledork, thanks man! :happy: If anyone knows if their Cerasi or Lineotela please lemme know.

And, I bought Drew's starter Formicarium to move the Crematogaster into! And a byformica micro liquid feeder. Well, enough of my jabbering, let the pics speak for themselves.

ByFormica Micro Feeder


Brachyamyrmex Depilis:


Crematogaster sp. (Before Move)


Drew's Starter Formicarium:


The tube was a tad bit wet after shipping, and they seemed reluctant to move. So I had to manually move them. No ants harmed though.
Crematogaster sp. (After Move)



Sorry about the cruddy pics, I'm just really excited and I don't have my macro lens anymore.

[Major]

Does anyone have any good colony names for my Crematogaster Lineolata?

[Skwiggledork]

Their new home looks good. I can't wait to see if the Brachymyrmex lays.

[Major]

I got a name for my Crematogaster Lineolata, tell me if you guys like it, Cupid's Army.

[Major]

Yes! Finally bought a camera, should be arriving in 3-7 business days. Can't wait! I'll also be moving November, after a few renovations and stuff.

As many of you may, or may not know, I'm still just a teen so I still go to school. I'm trying to focus on it once it starts so I'll be selling most of my ants off, and keeping my favorites. I will also only be able to update on the weekends. I'm still into antkeeping and am not planning on quitting so don't worry. I guess now that I'll only be able to update on weekly, general quality of the journal will improve.

Edited by Major, September 2 2018 - 4:16 PM.

[DaveJay]

Which camera did you buy?
Also, somehow I don't believe you won't be online during the week, there's always time for the Internet!

[Major]

Which camera did you buy?
Also, somehow I don't believe you won't be online during the week, there's always time for the Internet!

I bought the Canon Powershot SX60 HS with a Raynox DCR- 250 Lens. School doesn't start up till the sixth, so I can still use Formiculture. I'll pop in a couple times during weekdays probably.