Storing Termites

[kimberley breeder]

I was out in the bush across the road from me yesterday collecting the last of the dry season nesting grasses and harvesting some fresh seedheads and I notices a few termite mounds! The temptation is getting to me and I think Id like to try storing termites to give to my waxbills. What is the best way to harvest and store so I dont risk getting them around my house. Pictures and advice would be great! I have a day off today so I can do some DIY stuff

[finchbreeder]

There was a thread here somewhere where someone (wish I could remeber who) explained that. Think it involved a plastic drum and grease of some sort round the inside top so they couldn't crawl up and out. No lid from memory.
LML

[jusdeb]

Hmmmm sorry I wouldn't be bringing them anywhere near my house ...I know it must be tempting . Any way of killing them first ? Will the birds eat them fresh killed ?
Just my 2 bobs worth .

[Jayburd]

You can store termites in a big drum, with yes grease around the top to a stop them from getting out and b to stop black ants getting in and killing/eating the termites.

You can also snap freeze pre-gathered termites, and these are just as good as live ones once thawed.

I have some pics of a termite tumbler/way of storage, but the actual devices belong to another forum member so won't post.

[Jayburd]

and I think you put wood in the drum...

[kimberley breeder]

Do I freeze with dirt?? This is certainly a better option than keep them live.

[Jayburd]

put them through a tumbler first, then put a little crushed dirt in there with them. If you can get hold of a copy of the latest Just Finches mag there's a pic of some frozen termites in there

[Jayburd]

by crushed dirt I mean crumbled mound, the product of tumbling

[GregH]

I don't know where the thread is either but you need to store then indoors in a drum with somthing like a wet hessian bag over the top. You can supply pine offcuts for them or straw but the nest needs to be wet down every 3-4 days. It's unlikely that you'll have picked up the queen so they'll never establish (your house is safe). An alternative to timbler extraction is to use a light trap at the beginning of the wet season and capture the alate (winged) caste at night - you may even find a neadby mound at dusk and vacuume them up with a cordless dust buster and pop them in the freezer.

[kimberley breeder]

Aha! Found the pic Thanks Jay! Thanks everone for your input!