http://www.formicult...-feeder-colony/
5th July 2018
While I was flipping rocks this afternoon, this large slab revealed a complete termite nest. There were shallow dirt chambers underneath, fairly dry ones, and it was covered in termites.
Which started to slowly disperse into the tunnels.
After a bit of thinking, I decided to grab some, and maybe start a feeder colony. I do have two Pheidole antipodum queens which the wiki says are specialist predators of termites, so why not?
![:)](https://www.formiculture.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I think these are a drywood type as the soil underneath was not that damp nor was their nest in damp wood etc
click to enlarge
![](https://i.imgur.com/bCWBAAt.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/2oWMktE.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/ZHABsAS.jpg)
Video - after this I wet the other cardboard and they dispersed since they can now access damp cardboard without being exposed to light I guess
![:)](https://www.formiculture.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
These appear to be Nasutitermes fumigatus or N. dixoni
My guess is Nasutitermes fumigatus or N. dixoni. Which geographic location did you find them? As Cameron said, the soldiers shoot a sticky substance from their head which stick all over an ant. The worker termites are good food for ants. You need a king and queen to start a colony. You have some immature alates there, so they could become new kings or queens.
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At last count I had counted 15 soldiers, 5 reproductives or alates, 37 worker for the termites.
But since then I went back to grab some more, and likely around 20 soldiers and closer to 50 workers.
The 5 large white ones appear to be alate nymphs - pic of more developed ones with larger wings.
Which could become future king/queen in any case or are reproductives of some sort
![](http://www.scienceimage.csiro.au/images/cache/detail/739_0_BE1318.jpg)
Edited by CoolColJ, July 8 2018 - 3:11 AM.