For those of you with insect eating birds - Termites!

[Jon]

Just thought I'd post this - http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/content ... g-termites

Would be particularly useful for waxbills and such that need live food during nesting, etc.

It's a great guide!
I've had 2 colonies going for just about 3 years now, no escapees, no problems, easy feeders.
Oh, and unless your house is 80%+ humidity, and you have softwood exposed, you WON'T get infested by subterrarean termites. You'd also need 300-500 termite escapees for them to actually have a chance at an infestation, and even then, it's probably a 2% chance.

[Sally]

Very interesting article. I may have to break down and try this--shudder!

[Jon]

Colony 1 of mine is dying down a bit, so I just went out, smashed open a dead tree, and collected close to 10,000 to jump-start yet another colony. I guess raising hand sized tarantulas helps me blow off the fact that I got hundreds of termites smushed under my finger nails lol.

They're such a nutritious and fattening food, very popular for frog/Tarantula breeders such as myself! But do try them out, I'm excited to see how my future GBWs like termites. ;)

[cindy]

My husband is a Entomologist...his comment is "I would not take a chance!" There are two different kinds of termites in Florida...the subterrarean termites (tunnel builders) are a real issue down here. The other type is a dry wood termite....issue as well. I would stick to mealies and eggfood.

Termite prevention for homeowners down here is a huge business. If a house has an infestation it is costly to fix damage and to get rid of them completely....can just see the insurance adjustors face when it is explained "I was just raising them for the birds".

[Jon]

I personally can't imagine the subterrareans being a pest, they die with the slightest lack of moisture. Before I started breeding them, there was an instance where I had kept few hundred captures in their collection container overnight without any moisture. The next morning they were on their backs, pretty much dead. I can see them infesting an old, slightly run down house, but not an upkept one. The Formosans (drywoods) on the other hand seem to fare better with the dryer conditions.

[cindy]

Jon, my husband said that they survive the dry season in Florida, they over winter well. If new homes do not go through the proper prep to prevent them the house will get termites...you are playing with fire...this is coming from a man with a Masters Degree in Entomolgy.

[Jon]

Florida...has a dry season?

All jokes aside, I'd imagine they'd winter will within a damp log hidden under leaf litter. Of course, an established colony can survive pretty much anywhere.

But between a water moat, vasaline covered sides, and the fact that I've probably only had around 100 escapees (Which only ended up drowning in the moat) over the course of a couple years, the chances of a captive colony going rogue are rather slim, as long as the correct precautions take place. I believe my house is more at risk of a termite invasion from the colonies outside rather than the captive ones.

I've also bred plenty of Blaptica dubia, a tropical feeder roach for my reptiles. I suppose you could say I was playing with fire that instance too, since they could possibly surivive in the wilds of Florida. Between the thousands I had, I never had an escapee. I've since destroyed those colonies though after establishing colonies of legal species.

[cindy]

We do have very dry seasons here....since you are in Orlando you are aware of the wild fire season....weeks, months without rain.

We still do not advise termites being brought in from outdoors...not worth the risk. The Blaptica dubia, the Orange spotted coachroach...illegal here. Several insect sites clearly state they can not be shipped or brought into the state of Florida.

[Jon]

We do have very dry seasons here....since you are in Orlando you are aware of the wild fire season....weeks, months without rain.

We still do not advise termites being brought in from outdoors...not worth the risk. The Blaptica dubia, the Orange spotted coachroach...illegal here. Several insect sites clearly state they can not be shipped or brought into the state of Florida.

I suppose you're right, I've never really considered those times as "dry" though.

As for the roaches, I wasn't aware that they were illegal until close to year had passed after breeding them. I had gotten them from a fellower herper during a trade. As explained in my other post, though, I have since destroyed said colony and moved on to the few legal species here. (Discoids, surinams, green banana roaches, etc.)

[Jon]

I guess you have a point as far as domestication goes. I don't think you can get any easier with egg food/dried insects. I still prefer watching the birds "hunt" for their food though, especially food I've grown myself. Just a satisfaction of doing it myself sort of thing of. Here in Florida it's as simple as walking outside, ripping up a dead log, putting termites in a container, waiting, and bam! Free live food. Doing such a thing in a place like Canada would be near impossible though. As far as simpleness, I find myself keeping my mealworm colonies thriving to be much more laborous. It's probably because I have so many worms, but I find myself cutting up 1-2 pounds of potatoes/carrots every week. Luckily I get those for free!

Of course, I'm still a complete newb to finches and haven't bred anything other than zebras/socities, or a bird that would require live food for that matter, (yet!) so I guess I'm still not in a place to "gloat" about how good of a superfood termites are. (Well, they are for my other animals/insects!)

Just a little idea for those southern bird keepers though!

[cindy]

I am always leary of feeding "wild caught" bugs to domesticated birds. Insects and grubs, earthworms should be "clean". Outside Earthworms eat decomposing leaves and decaying matter. Other insects travel through soils and debris outside. Our domestic finches are not like the wild birds that have the ability to deal with outside "germs". Best to stick to eggfoods, farm raised mealies for domestic reptiles and birds and of course dried insects.

[Sally]

Well, I live in a small older house, and I think termites must be a problem in Texas, as you are required to get a termite inspection when buying/selling a house. Maybe I'd better not take a chance, I'd hate to need termite treatment, especially since my birds are in my house!

[gsjohnson]

All I know is I ain't buyin' a home in Florida.