Termites, Maggots and Other critters

[wilsta]

Hi All,

Can someone put into perspective for me so i can understand how to feed, store, such little critters? I am one to feed my birds but have never gone to those lengths to feed such little pests. is anyone concerned about termites escaping and starting to chew on your house? how do you contain them for example?

My wife doesnt quite understand that in nature finches feed on these little things so bringing them into our home is a big no no!!

Any advice welcome.

wilsta

[Jayburd]

There is more than one type of termite!!!
Termites don't all eat your house - inly a few. Most eat grass or spinifexs.
LIVE Termites can be stored in a big drum, with oil or grease rubbed around the rim to stop them climbing out, and also to stop the normal black ants which will eat them from getting in.
whole mounds or bits of mounds can be stored this way. it's best to leave some mound though, as you can re-visit it later... I know people who've been using the same 5 mounds for years!
Some dampened wood or grass can be placed on top of the mound in the drum, and the drum covered with damp hessian.

Termites cannot be bred 'in captivity', as you would need the queen for that, and she's usually hidden a long way beneath the ground.

Maggots can be bred in an old refrigerator, which is the normal way. various people use different mixes as a medium for rearing maggots, but I hear Whey powder works (thanks Gomer!)
Basically, get an old fridge (or make a box yourself, your choice), cover the front in flywire (after taking the door off), install a 60w bulb about halfway up the back wall of the fridge on the inside, and make sure it works...
Then get a takeaway container, fill it with your preferred medium, get another container, fill it with water, and place a rolled up piece of cotton wool (make it tight so it looks like a straw or something), stick it in the water with a bit poking out so the flies can drink without drowning.
Then make sure you can get your hand in and out of the fridge through a door of some kind somewhere on the fridge, and make sure it;s big enough so that the containers inside can be brought out too.

Then order or get from somewhere some activated fly pupae (Pisces is good), and release them into the box when they've hatched (or before to prevent any accidents in which your house is covered in flies )

I'll let someone else explain the maggot cycle.

good luck! hope this helps.

[spanna]

here's a basic setup for a flybox
http://www.hawkesburyfinchclub.com/maggots.html
my fly box is about 75cm by 75cm by 75cm with a globe at the back in the middle, closer to the floor than the roof (heat rises and all that). flywire front, compartment underneath for developing maggots, tight fitting door is essential.

to breed mealworms place them in a large box with some bran as a substrate (or something better if anyone has any suggestions), a piece of hessian folded in half and some carrot on the hessian. the carrot acts as both a food and water source, but only provide an amount that they can eat in a couple of days otherwise it will become green and covered in slime and mould. it goes on top of the hessian to prevent the bran going off too. the mealworms will eventually turn into pupae, then beetles. beetles can be removed into another box with the same setup where they will lay eggs. the eggs take a little while (can't remember how long exactly) to hatch, but eventually tiny little mealworms can be seen eating the carrot. it is important to have a tight fitting lid for the beetles as they can fly and climb!!

if you have no interest in breeding them (i do, but i still find it's difficult to breed mealworms regularly in winter so have to buy some) then most bird shops sell mealies. mealies, maggots and termites can all be kept in the fridge. mealworms survive refrigerated for quite a long time, but maggots and termites for only about a week if you still wish to feed them live. some people have also had success with feeding frozen termites.

jays description of keeping termites live is a good one

[ray_223]

Hi Wilsta,

I mate and myself made a DVD just on live food for finches.

You can see a preview (and buy if you wish) at:
http://AvicultureProductions.com/live-food-for-finches

[wilsta]

Thanks for the info guys. most appreciated.

[avishoot]

if you are worries about white ants you can always freeze them . i have been using frozen white ants for some time and it has been very successful. i have breed melbas and auroras amongst others with no decrease in clutch sizes compared to when i was feeding live ants. collecting and storing does take some time on the day but you save time when feeding each day .

[wilsta]

where do people get their termites from? bush?

[BENSONSAN]

Hey jaye ive had maggots last for 2 months in my fridge. Weird maybe i just get erm while there fresh a young.

[finchbreeder]

Wilsta, easier for people to suggest termite sites if they know which state you are in. So maybe fill in your location.
LML

[mikeknight]

any termite site in perth someone could point out too me would b most apreciated.. thanks