Zephyr Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 So I've been seeing these odd little bugs scampering around in my G. oblongonata enclosure (all cypress mulch with a few oak leaves) and the other night I finally checked them out under my microscope. They're termites. I checked the actual substrate and it's loaded with them. It's a very strange substrate for them; hot and dry. I really want to get a culture aside from the "natural" one going; is there a queen I need to look for, or can I just grab some of the bigger ones and hope they're "reproductives"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugmanPrice Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 When was the last time you added new substrate/decorations to your enclosure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted December 8, 2009 Author Share Posted December 8, 2009 When was the last time you added new substrate/decorations to your enclosure? Oi... It's been a good... 4-5 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugmanPrice Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 That would leave me to believe that there is at least one female reproductive in there, neato!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 That would leave me to believe that there is at least one female reproductive in there, neato!!! So... how do I find her? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 any pics? Haha best thing to do is get as many as you can and the reproductive as well. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 It would be next to impossible for me to get pics. They're microscopic. However, when I get the chance, I'll take a pic with my microscope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugmanPrice Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 So... how do I find her? lol I don't know, she should be bigger then the rest but they are hard to tell apart from nonreproductives depending on the species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blatta70 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 So I've been seeing these odd little bugs scampering around in my G. oblongonata enclosure (all cypress mulch with a few oak leaves) and the other night I finally checked them out under my microscope. They're termites. I checked the actual substrate and it's loaded with them. It's a very strange substrate for them; hot and dry. I really want to get a culture aside from the "natural" one going; is there a queen I need to look for, or can I just grab some of the bigger ones and hope they're "reproductives"? Are you familiar with psocids (psocoptera)? Your description sounds more like psocids than termites. These are commonly found in both dry and moist areas as long as there high organic material present. They resemble termites (though not related) and have well developed compound eyes. Worker termites are neonates and lack eyes all together. Only reproductive adult termites possess eyes. Hope this helps. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 Oh boy. I think those are them. LOL Will this be a problem to my home/furniture/mother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharma Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 No, it won't... Well, at least not for your furniture. Your house... uuuhhh... if it's moist and dirty it will but otherwise not. The thing with your mother is something different but she seems to tolerate your other pets and therefore it's quite likely that she wouldn't be more stressed than she already is ! And another thing: There are about a hundred species within the psocoptera family and only very few are 'kind of pest-like', meaning that they might occur mainly in new houses where there is a lot of dust left over from construction and if the walls aren't dried out enough but non to my knowledge are real pest insects. Many species would never live in a house and prefer free nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Awesome! Looks like I'm growing something else now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 You still have these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibiscusmile Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 I'm telling your mother! Bless her heart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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