BoyFromLA’s Assassin Bugs Diary

[BoyFromLA]

07/05/2021

They are now moved into almost four times larger than previous enclosure.

Now I do not have to worry about my nymphs growing in numbers, and in sizes for a few more years at least. It’s all covered.

 

[BoyFromLA]

08/07/2021

Surprisingly, still so many newly born nymphs can be spotted everywhere, while others already are into like third or fourth insta.

This enclosures will be filled with so many of them sooner or later.

 

[BoyFromLA]

08/21/2021



Now, majority of the early born nymphs are 3rd, if not 4th insta, and they eat like champs.

Remaining adults are still into breeding. They are constantly mating, and laying eggs here and there, the main drivers of this colony.



Freshly newborn nymphs are also eating like champs, getting along very well with other larger ones as new members of the colony.

The colony is continuously booming, and very successful. I have very high hopes for next round of breeding season once they all mature into adults. It will be so crazy I can imagine.

 

[BoyFromLA]

09/13/2021

They are technically stealing from each other, but let’s just put it nicely, they are sharing a meal together.

 

[Westicles]

Hey, do you have wheel bugs where you are? Sorry, I don't know the scientific name. But you know 'em when you see 'em!!!

 

[BoyFromLA]

Hey, do you have wheel bugs where you are? Sorry, I don't know the scientific name. But you know 'em when you see 'em!!!

I honestly have no idea. I only keep Psytalla horrida.

 

[Westicles]

I honestly have no idea. I only keep Psytalla horrida.

Only asking because if you like assassin bugs, you'd probably love those beasts!

 

[DaveM]

Great stuff, @BoyFromLA!

Hey, do you have wheel bugs where you are? Sorry, I don't know the scientific name. But you know 'em when you see 'em!!!

Wheel bugs -- Arilus cristatus. I see these lurking on raspberry bushes sometimes. An aunt of mine caught one, asked me for an ID for a "weird looking stink bug with a shape like a gear sprocket sticking out of its back." Lucky she didn't catch the thing bare-handed, because it was no harmless stink bug! They look really cool. After seeing @BoyFromLA's adventures, now I want to catch and try keeping some. Good idea, @Westicles!

 

[RoachCoach]

Man, it's pretty remarkable you haven't sold any yet. Just having 8 myself and they eat a butt ton of roaches every month and they aren't even laying me eggs! The eggs do look like face hugger eggs for real though. If you are in the market to buy more I'll let you know when mine do. Until then, they'll just be eating me out of house and home.

 

[Westicles]

Great stuff, @BoyFromLA!



Wheel bugs -- Arilus cristatus. I see these lurking on raspberry bushes sometimes. An aunt of mine caught one, asked me for an ID for a "weird looking stink bug with a shape like a gear sprocket sticking out of its back." Lucky she didn't catch the thing bare-handed, because it was no harmless stink bug! They look really cool. After seeing @BoyFromLA's adventures, now I want to catch and try keeping some. Good idea, @Westicles!

Yeah, they're relatively common down here. I see quite a few on my plants and flowers, hopefully taking care of the pests. I'm sure you know this, but supposedly their bites are legendary!!! Anyhow, proceed with caution! Lol

 

[BoyFromLA]

09/19/2021

This short, three minutes feeding clip shows about how many feeder insects I throw in every / every other week for them, and how extremel well they react to feeder insects.

You do not see all, but there are roughly about fifty of them are in there.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

You selling any?

 

[BoyFromLA]

Yes I do, you can either go to my classified ad, or DM me.

 

[BoyFromLA]

10/16/2021

Breeding season seems to be over now, and majority of the nymphs are no more nymphs. Soon they all will be fully grown and start breeding.

Today was a little dubia feeding party.

 

[BoyFromLA]

10/23/2021

Another dubia roach feeding party.

 

[BoyFromLA]

11/05/2021

Caught in the moment, molting into maturity.

 

[GL3NE]

Hi there, thank you for keeping this updated as it is really interesting and informative.

I have five adult P. biguttatus which are producing eggs. I have a LOT of eggs currently stored in a separate incubator which is a small plastic container with damp coconut fiber and side ventilation, kept around 80 degrees F. I check for eggs every single day and remove them, placing them on the substrate in the incubator and misting/removing mold as necessary (there has been almost no mold). I hand feed the adults to ensure there are no crickets running around laying eggs and/or eating eggs when they are laid.

I have some questions. Did you notice any change in the eggs' appearance before hatching? And did you have a lot of eggs which didn't hatch at all? I'm not sure if the eggs I have are duds or what, but it has been a few weeks and nothing has hatched and I haven't noticed any significant differences since when they were first laid, aside from maybe appearing lighter in color.

 

[kingshockey]

they dont canibalize ?they seem to be on the all that moves is food side soon as you added the prey funny watching the tug o wars

 

[BoyFromLA]

11/26/2021

Every single day at least one is getting matured. Very soon, all will be matured, and will be ready for next breeding season.

I got so many from just from seven matured ones, I can only imagine how many will be born from these many matured ones.

 

[Zevil]

Hi I recently bought 8 second instar P horrida. I fed them red runners about their own size on the first day, most of them took it. But then some of them wasn't eating that much after the fhrst day even though their abdomen isn't plump. I keep them in a kritter keeper tank with a semi round cork bark hide and two pieces of branches and the substrate is dry eco earth

I would say 4 of them aren't eating that well. 2 of which already molted into third instar but hasn't been eating after molting for a week now