Vonones ornata "Ocala, FL"

[Hisserdude]

Received a pair from @Lucanus95 late last year, and I've gotten a couple clutches of offspring so far!

Most "Vonones ornata" in the hobby are actually Vonones sayi, which has a far wider range, but lacks the two large spikes on their backs that true V.ornata have. True V.ornata are pretty uncommon in culture, and only seem to be found in FL, and perhaps the southern areas of surrounding states(?).

Fairly easy to breed so long as they're kept warm and humid. I'm just feeding mine dog food, fruits, and the occasional dead invert. I threw in some live Compsodes schwarzi roaches but I can't tell if they're actually eating any of them.

Pics of one of the adults:

And now here's an L3 CB immature:

These youngsters don't look much like the adults until they hit L5-L6, at which point they start looking like mini versions of the adults. Such underrated arachnids, I hope to breed a variety of US native and adventives harvestmen this year!

 

[RezonantVoid]

I have just begun keeping my own harvestmen and I deeply wish I'd started sooner. Mine are predatory and honestly aren't much different to a whip spider in behaviour aside from being way more photogenic. Those Vonones look absolutely gorgeous

 

[paumotu]

Are there any predatory (not opportunistic) opiliones in the USA? Congrats on the babies btw!

 

[Richard McJimsey]

Awesome to see someone successfully keeping and breeding Opilionids, they are seriously cool arachnids.

 

[Hisserdude]

I have just begun keeping my own harvestmen and I deeply wish I'd started sooner. Mine are predatory and honestly aren't much different to a whip spider in behaviour aside from being way more photogenic. Those Vonones look absolutely gorgeous

Very interesting, do you know which species you have? Any pictures? They're definitely underrated in the hobby, my favorite arachnids to keep by far!

 

[Hisserdude]

Are there any predatory (not opportunistic) opiliones in the USA? Congrats on the babies btw!

Most seem to be opportunistic scavengers, that will also take live prey if they're soft bodied and slow moving. There is one genus in the Northwest US I know of, Taracus, that specializes in eating snails.
Thanks, looking forward to establishing a nice colony of these!

 

[Hisserdude]

Awesome to see someone successfully keeping and breeding Opilionids, they are seriously cool arachnids.

Thanks, hopefully we'll see more people breeding them in the future, lots of neat species native to the US, not to mention all the crazy exotics out there! Sadly they're very underappreciated compared to other Arachnids, despite their relative ease of care and their (usually) somewhat communal lifestyles.

 

[paumotu]

Most seem to be opportunistic scavengers, that will also take live prey if they're soft bodied and slow moving. There is one genus in the Northwest US I know of, Taracus, that specializes in eating snails.
Thanks, looking forward to establishing a nice colony of these!

Wow, I’m not familiar with Taracus. The long pedipalps are really near. I wonder if it’s possible to culture them in captivity. Being troglodytic, I’d guess they need cooler temperatures.

 

[RezonantVoid]

Very interesting, do you know which species you have? Any pictures? They're definitely underrated in the hobby, my favorite arachnids to keep by far!

I think Nunciella sp. was suggested

 

[Hisserdude]

Wow, I’m not familiar with Taracus. The long pedipalps are really near. I wonder if it’s possible to culture them in captivity. Being troglodytic, I’d guess they need cooler temperatures.

They'd probably be pretty easy, just keep them pretty cool, humid, and offer live snails as food.

I think Nunciella sp. was suggested
View attachment 413549 View attachment 413550

Dang, those are cute! Hope you can culture them successfully!

 

[Smotzer]

Congrats, I’ve just gotten some slings from V. sayi and I’m not sure how my Dalquestia formosa I collected are doing, I had a few deaths. I’m working on getting Opiliones out there in the hobby as well! That speck inbetween the two adults in the middle is one of my new ‘Olings’

 

[Hisserdude]

Congrats, I’ve just gotten some slings from V. sayi and I’m not sure how my Dalquestia formosa I collected are doing, I had a few deaths. I’m working on getting Opiliones out there in the hobby as well! That speck inbetween the two adults in the middle is one of my new ‘Olings’ View attachment 413724

Very nice, I just got two V.sayi from my buddy, also hopefully a sexed pair. Dalquestia are one of my most wanted US harvestmen, really hope to get some one day! Hope you can breed yours!

 

[Smotzer]

Dalquestia are one of my most wanted US harvestmen, really hope to get some one day! Hope you can breed yours!

I think my collected culture failed I had 7 and they are far more finicky that Vonones sayi which I’ve found to be billet proof almost requiring very little. I’m going to trying again after I get back home from my trip the middle of April. If I am successful I’ll be sure to keep you in mind to send you some Olings!

edit: actually have about 1:30min-2hrs to spare so I’m going to go to the Dalquestia formosa spot to see if I can find a few more adults now that it has warmed up and is 85 today!

 

[Smotzer]

I struck out looking for more Dalquestia formosa on Friday, but I only had about 45minutes to really look at the site and it always taken me a bit longer to find multiples of them.