New Invertebrate Club in Southern California!

[chanda]

Yeah, I'd love to join you if I can! I'm in Redlands and have kids that I have to get to school and to various activities, but if the meetings are relatively close - and at a time when I can get away for a few hours - I'll try to be there.

As for what I keep, I don't focus on any one thing. I kind of have the "variety pack" going, with a little of everything. In addition to the aforementioned P. biguttatus, I have an assortment of tarantulas (M. balfouri communal, several native Aphonopelma sp., C. cyanopubescens, G. pulchripes, G. porteri, B. albopilosum, T. stirmi - but she seems to be dying , P. vittata, N. chromatus, A. geniculata, C. elegans), some non-tarantula spiders (Acanthognatus francki, Dolomedes okefinokensis, Loxosceles sp. (Tucson), Hogna sp. (Tucson), Latrodectus hesperus, Olios giganteus, Kukulcania sp.), beetle larvae (Dynastes granti), centipedes (S. heros, S. polymorpha, and S. dehaani), millipedes (C. spinigerus), roaches (B. giganteus, G. portentosa, and B. dubia (as feeders), isopods (Porcellio sp.), scorpions (P. puritanus, H. troglodytes, H. spinifer, A. pococki), amblypygids (D. diadema and P. carolynae), and a vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus giganteus).

There's probably something I'm forgetting, but this is basically what I have right now, but it is frequently subject to change - particularly in the late spring and summer, when I go out hiking and collect pretty much anything I can find to bring in and show my students. (I teach summer school bug and spider classes for elementary and middle school kids.) During the spring and summer, I usually also have Solifugids, assorted velvet ants, a Pepsis wasp (if I can catch one), assorted darkling and ironclad beetles, plus the occasional ground beetle or longhorned beetle, native phasmids (Timema sp. and Parabacillus hesperus) if I can find them, and a few different mantids. (I'll be picking up some new mantids at the show in Pomona this weekend - I hope!)

I don't breed a lot of things, but I do breed the D. diadema and I am hoping the P. carolynae will start reproducing soon. I am seeing spermatophores in one of my tanks, so I'm optimistic! I am also currently raising O. giganteus and D. okefinokensis spiderlings (didn't breed the parents - just got lucky and got gravid females). The roaches are all breeding as well - but then, that's what roaches do. The assassin bugs are breeding like crazy, too!

 

[Arthroverts]

Great! The coming meeting is on a Saturday in the morning in Rancho Cucamonga, so I am not sure if that works fo you or not, but we'd love to have you! My collection is similar to yours, a hodgepodge of creatures. I am breeding Phrynus marginemaculatus, and I'd love to get some P. carolynae or some P. barbadensis. I am also working on breeding Platymeris sp. "Mombo", and like I said above, I want to get some P. bigutattus.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[checkmate]

I'm down but I often work Saturdays so I have to see if I'm working that day or not.

 

[Arthroverts]

Awesome @wetwork! I'll keep you in the loop, and if you can't come perhaps we can see you at the next meeting!

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[BoyFromLA]

be sure to bring some pictures of those tarantulas for us! The blue fangs are incredible on the cyanognathus.

I sure will.

 

[chanda]

Saturdays are tough - the kids usually have activities - but I'll see what I can do.

 

[Arthroverts]

@BoyFromLA, looking forward to seeing them!

@chanda, I totally understand. Hopefully you can make it, but if not no worries! There will always be another meeting, and you can always drop by for just a few minutes.

In regards to ICSC, I almost have everyone who wants to join the club emails, so if you haven't sent me a PM with your email, please do so!

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[chanda]

@chanda, I totally understand. Hopefully you can make it, but if not no worries! There will always be another meeting, and you can always drop by for just a few minutes.

"Drop by for just a few minutes" isn't the issue - it's the drive to Rancho Cucamonga (and back) part that might be a problem!

 

[Arthroverts]

I see. Well, as asked by @NYAN and @BoyFromLA, we can move the next meeting (and maybe the one after that, considering Downtown LA and Redlands are in opposite directions) to make it work for more people.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[NYAN]

I see. Well, as asked by @NYAN and @BoyFromLA, we can move the next meeting (and maybe the one after that, considering Downtown LA and Redlands are in opposite directions) to make it work for more people.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

I appreciate it! I’m an hour away from LA.

 

[Arthroverts]

@NYAN, An hour west of LA?

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[NYAN]

@NYAN, An hour west of LA?

Thanks,

Arthroverts

Southwest. I’m right on the ocean pretty much.

 

[Arthroverts]

Ah, now I understand. I'll see if we can move the next meeting closer, I am not sure how much, but we will see if we can make it work. I live in the Mojave Desert...never fear though! I am certain we can work something out.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[chanda]

Our suggested first meeting time is February the 23rd, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, at IHOP, 7228 Archibald Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701. This would be a sort of planning and get-to-know-each-other meeting, figuring out where we want to go as a club, discuss entry fee (if necessary), and invite local reptile and invertebrate shops to support us. Also, you are encouraged to bring along your livestock to trade, sell, or display (not too many creatures, unless you are making a large trade arranged beforehand, and no highly venomous species please)!

Just a thought after re-reading the initial post: While it would be awesome to buy/sell/trade livestock at the meetings, the proprietors of the IHOP may not take kindly to patrons bringing live bugs (or bugs of any sort, really!) into their establishment! They certainly would not want a bunch of live inverts displayed in plain view of their other patrons - particularly any potential pests (such as roaches) or anything venomous or scary (spiders, scorpions, etc.) It would probably be best to leave said livestock in the car during the meeting - assuming it is not too cold (or hot) to do so. (In February, I doubt "too hot" would be an issue - but in SoCal, you never can tell!) After the "business" part of the meeting has concluded, any buying/selling/trading or just show-and-tell could take place in the parking lot.

 

[BoyFromLA]

Just a thought after re-reading the initial post: While it would be awesome to buy/sell/trade livestock at the meetings, the proprietors of the IHOP may not take kindly to patrons bringing live bugs (or bugs of any sort, really!) into their establishment! They certainly would not want a bunch of live inverts displayed in plain view of their other patrons - particularly any potential pests (such as roaches) or anything venomous or scary (spiders, scorpions, etc.) It would probably be best to leave said livestock in the car during the meeting - assuming it is not too cold (or hot) to do so. (In February, I doubt "too hot" would be an issue - but in SoCal, you never can tell!) After the "business" part of the meeting has concluded, any buying/selling/trading or just show-and-tell could take place in the parking lot.

I agree 275% on this.

 

[Arthroverts]

Very good point @chanda, and I totally agree. However, many IHOP's have a private meeting room that patrons can use for free (if they buy food of course). I went to a saltwater aquarium meeting that was at an IHOP, and they brought in corals and fish (some that were mildly venomous) that they sold and raffled off, so I don't think we will have an issues with it so long as we don't broadcast what were doing to everyone. I have tried calling this IHOP to reserve the meeting room, but the call wouldn't go through, so I will try again later. As long as we are careful, I don't think it will be a problem. I have also asked that highly venomous species be left at home.
However, if it does turn out to be a problem, I will definitely join you in leaving creatures either in the car, or in boxes or bags that can't be seen through if the temperature outside proves to insufficient for keeping our creatures comfortable.

Thank you for making sure all the bases are covered!

Arthroverts

 

[Arthroverts]

We could also find another restaurant that is more conducive to our purposes if we really need to.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[chanda]

Very good point @chanda, and I totally agree. However, many IHOP's have a private meeting room that patrons can use for free (if they buy food of course). I went to a saltwater aquarium meeting that was at an IHOP, and they brought in corals and fish (some that were mildly venomous) that they sold and raffled off, so I don't think we will have an issues with it so long as we don't broadcast what were doing to everyone. I have tried calling this IHOP to reserve the meeting room, but the call wouldn't go through, so I will try again later. As long as we are careful, I don't think it will be a problem. I have also asked that highly venomous species be left at home.
However, if it does turn out to be a problem, I will definitely join you in leaving creatures either in the car, or in boxes or bags that can't be seen through if the temperature outside proves to insufficient for keeping our creatures comfortable.

Thank you for making sure all the bases are covered!

Arthroverts

That is very optimistic - and it's even possible that they'd be willing - but I highly doubt it.

The problem is, restaurants have to pass regular health inspections - and the presence of bugs is generally not conducive to that. Tropical fish aren't going to be a problem. They tend not to escape - and even if one were accidentally "released" (dropped or spilled or jumped out of the container or whatever) there is absolutely no chance of it surviving or infesting the place.

Inverts, on the other hand, have a greater chance of escaping - and many of them certainly can survive on their own and possibly even infest the building where they are released. Some, like roaches, are definite health code violations, while others are venomous (even if the venom is not medically significant) or just plain scary to the non-enthusiast. I doubt the manager or owner of the restaurant is particularly knowledgable about bugs, so they are unlikely to differentiate between "good bugs" and "bad bugs" or to know which bugs have the potential to infest a restaurant or bite or sting a patron, or how severe the venom might be. To them, it's all just bugs. I find it hard to imagine any responsible restaurant owner or manager agreeing to a bunch of strangers bringing in live bugs, even if we pinky swear not to release any.

 

[Arthroverts]

Hmmm. First check! You are absolutely right @chanda. Thank you for bringing this up. I think we may have to go with your suggestion about conducting our sales/trades in the parking lot, but let's see if we can't problem solve here. I will, if I can, talk with the manager of the IHOP sometime before the meeting and find out his/her position on this. If he/she is absolutely intractable on the idea of any invertebrates or invertebrate related functions within the meeting room, I may have to find us another, nearby place to meet. However, let us continue to work this out.
Any suggestions @NYAN, @BoyFromLA, @wetwork, @RTTB, @lostbrane? I am glad we are getting this figured out before the meeting!

Many thanks everyone for helping with this,

Arthroverts

 

[NYAN]

@chanda I was thinking the same thing.