A short feeding video of one of the OIF's young Chaco Golden-knee tarantulas. Even as slings these guys are super curious and bold - once the lid comes off their container they wander right out to investigate, rather than hide. Also, very docile and slow moving even at this size.
I'm really enjoying working with this species and look forward to seeing their beautiful golden highlights once they get a little larger.
#ontarioinvertfarm #invertebratesofinstagram #tarantulas #tarantulatuesday #grammastolapulchripes #grammastola #chacogoldenkneetarantula #captivebred #slings #sling
Update: Discoid Growth Trial
Unfortunately, due to moving and then my absence over the past 50 days the roaches in this trial were not kept at optimal temperatures. However, they were all subjected to the same conditions, so while failing to reach adulthood, the results still stand.
WINNER: REDLANDS
It wasn't even close. As you can see from the video the Redlands made it to their final instar while the Banana Bay and York are one molt behind.
I plan to redo this trial, maintaining all specimens at preferred temperature, although I don't expect the results to differ significantly. In addition, I will be setting up a fertility trial, seeing how many nymphs are produced and at what speed for the three varieties I work with.
#ontarioinvertfarm #discoidroaches #redlands #bananabay #york #feederroaches #livefeeders #captivebred
An update for the Blue Baboon tarantulas at the OIF. This species has quickly become a favorite of mine and I always enjoy watching them interact with each other. I have never once observed aggression between them and even with space to spread out they seem to prefer sharing the same burrow. This is a very unique and fascinating species - I can't wait to get my colony breeding and see it get bigger!
#ontarioinvertfarm #balfouri #bluebaboontarantula #communaltarantula #spidersofinstagram
Just a short video of a katydid I found on a walk.
A lot of people think of Orthoptera order of insects (crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids) as largely herbivorous, but in fact many are highly omnivorous and love high protein snacks.
#katydid #ontarioinvertfarm #insectsofinstagram #wildinsectlife #wildinsect #orthoptera
Brand new additions to the OIF that people have been requesting for a long time - rubber duckies!
I don't know why I resisted getting these for so long. I can now appreciate that they've earned their higher price tag: being both more adorable and are much more vibrant in colour than I anticipated.
Thanks to Dave from @incoginverts for this great founding stock! I have a great setup I'll be putting these guys in since they've already earned a spot in a display tank.
Not sure how soon I'll have these available but, if you don't already, follow this chanel for future updates on these and all the stock we offer at the OIF.
#ontarioinvertfarm #invertebratesofinstagram #isopodsofinstagram #cubaris #rubberduckyisopod #isopods #captivebred #newstock
Ugh, dealing with an outbreak of grain mites is never fun. It is decidedly even less fun when there isn't an easy solution to kill them without killing all the other creatures you keep.
Thankfully this isn't our first rodeo, and we do have a solution. The "soil lion" is another name given to Stratiolaelaps scimitus (formally know as Hypoaspis miles) - these are effective against fungus gnat, shore fly, thrips pupae, as well as several pest mite species, including grain mites.
As one can see in the video the problem has spread to the entire bookshelf. Thankfully this is not at the main production facility but at home, where the issue is much more concentrated and easier to deal with.
When it runs out of prey this amazing predatory mite can survive on algae and pollen, and then can go another several weeks without food! They are a generalist predator, going after nematodes, springtails, mites, and soil dwelling insects. They are a super effective biological control and the OIF is pleased to offer them for sale
#ontarioinvertfarm #invertebratesofinstagram #stratiolaelapsscimitus #hypoaspismiles #predatorymites #biologicalcontrolagents #biologicalcontrol #grainmites
Carolina locusts have all been moved out to a mesh cage at this stage. Thankfully, they appear to have no interest in chewing through the mesh...at least not yet, anyway.
They are being given dry Timothy hay as their main diet, and being fed garden weeds as a source of moisture. This species definitely enjoys the sun and will push each other out of spots to secure the ideal place to sunbath and enjoy the warmth.
No breeding or eggs noted just yet, hopefully that changes soon.
#ontarioinvertfarm #oorthoptera #carolinalocust #captivebreeding #feedergrasshopper #insectsofinstagram #feeders
Blue baboon tarantulas (Monocentropus balfourI) probably one of my favourite tarantulas in my collection at the moment, I absolutely love how communal this species is. For the longest time I'd only see one or two, but I guess moving them to a new location was enough disturbance to get them out of their shared burrow. I counted six out of eight spiders, and now they've grown I should start considering upgrading their habitat in the near future.
This is an old world species unlike any other. Dispite being a baboon tarantula this species is good natured enough I transferred all eight spiders by hand to their current enclosure without a single issue. As you can see from their close clustering they don't mind the presence of others and I have never even noted a squabble.
Looking forward to having this species breed for me and eventually having a whole tank packed with balfs!
#bluebaboontarantula #ontarioinvertfarm #invertsofinstagram #tarantulas #captivebred #balfouri #Monocentropus #communaltarantula
Wish I had recorded some video when I had nine of them, but hindsight is 20:20. This is what's left of my rosy maple moth caterpillars, which is sad because these guys are both cute as caterpillars AND absolutely adorable as moths.
Of the three I think it's wildly optimistic to hope for a pair, but with any luck I'll get at least one female and hopefully can call a wild male in. It'd be nice to keep this species going in my collection and offer it for sale, but I suppose time will tell. More to follow...
UPDATE: the trial for comparing growth rates between discoid varieties started on June 28th. I take a look at how things are going now they're past the first 1/3 period of growth.
#ontarioinvertfarm #insectsofinstagram #invertebratesofinstagram #captiverearing #discoidroaches
Our Luna moths have now all spun their cocoons and are currently pupating. Since this is the summer generation the adults should eclose in 2 to 3 weeks, mate, and produce one more generation before the fall.
#ontarioinvertfarm #insectsofinstagram #lepidoptera #captiverearing #captivebred #invertebratesofinstagram #lunamoth #actiasluna
My grapevine beetle colony is thriving and pairing regularly.
This beetle is gorgeous and grows to a decent size, although sadly it is fairly short-lived as an adult.
Easy to rear and breed in captivity, the only "demanding" part of their care is that the adults require leaves of Virginia creeper or grape for food. Thankfully these food plants grow all over Ontario and easy to propagate.
I expect to have grubs available for sale by fall.
