Earwigs as feeders?
- BleedingRaindrops
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2016 11:33 am
- Location: Okinawa
Earwigs as feeders?
There is a colony (I haven't identified the species of) that lives in the wall of a concrete building near me, which regularly hunts and kills earwigs. I see them dragging dead earwigs back all the time and I caught them in the act of killing it once. Obviously the ants like them, but do you think they are species specific prey or that they might work for all species of ant? They are relatively easy to find and catch and I would love to see an ant colony take these if they are suitable.
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 1494
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Earwigs as feeders?
They can actually be kind of dangerous to ants, left alive. Those pincers are not just used in defense; earwigs are omnivorous hunters.
They're also very cannibalistic, so attempts to breed cultures of them have failed. It might be fun to raise a family of earwigs, as the females are devoted mothers up until their offspring's second molt.
They're also very cannibalistic, so attempts to breed cultures of them have failed. It might be fun to raise a family of earwigs, as the females are devoted mothers up until their offspring's second molt.
Links:
Rules & Requirements for Identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=292
How to take pictures for identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2167
Rules & Requirements for Identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=292
How to take pictures for identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2167
Re: Earwigs as feeders?
Guide to keep earwigs:
http://insectandentomology.forumotion.com/t46-official-guide-to-keeping-earwigs#167
http://insectandentomology.forumotion.com/t46-official-guide-to-keeping-earwigs#167
"We should respect all forms of consciousness. The body is just a vessel, a mere hull."
Re: Earwigs as feeders?
I've been thinking of this too. I can probably find and catch 50 around my house right now if I wanted, but I'm not sure if they are resistant to pesticides. I'll do some research.
Beginner ant keeper in New England!
Keeper of:
-1x Lasius claviger (1 queen)
-3x Lasius umbratus OR speculiventris (all of one queen)
-9x other unidentified Lasius (all of one queen)
-1x Camponotus pennsylvanicus (1 queen)
Keeper of:
-1x Lasius claviger (1 queen)
-3x Lasius umbratus OR speculiventris (all of one queen)
-9x other unidentified Lasius (all of one queen)
-1x Camponotus pennsylvanicus (1 queen)
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 1494
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Earwigs as feeders?
Well, the point of the pesticide resistance is that flies will be exposed to them and still stay alive, then when an insect without resistance eats the fly, they die. Any insects that you cultivate are safe as food, in that regard, because they were never exposed to pesticides in the first place.
Links:
Rules & Requirements for Identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=292
How to take pictures for identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2167
Rules & Requirements for Identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=292
How to take pictures for identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2167
-
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2016 4:38 am
- Location: Australia
Re: Earwigs as feeders?
I fed some earwigs to some wild ants. I think they were Iridomyrmex Sp. They took them into their ant hole and they presumably ate them. You should probably stick with mealworms but if you are going to feed earwigs make sure they are dead. Not half dead, dead.
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