Winter Bugs from Alan!

Once again I've received a package from my good friend and enabler Alan Jeon. 😆 Got some truly amazing species in this box, so let's dive right in!

First, and probably most excitedly, Alan sent me two Stenochrus portoricensis "Archbold, FL"! A member of the Schizomida, AKA "Minigaroons", these obscure and minute Arachnids look essentially like tiny little vinegaroons, with a much shorter stub of a "whip". These diminutive Arachnids are very rarely collected and even more rarely cultured. This particular locality of this species reproduces through parthenogenesis, which means both the individuals I received are female and capable of producing offspring without the need to mate. Unfortunately this also means we don't get to see the males and their unique terminal structures, but oh well.

I am keeping them in a moderately ventilated enclosure with a couple inches of coconut fiber mixed with sand, topped with lots of little bark pieces and litter for them to hide under. For food I am offering lots of springtails, I also tossed in a couple Nocticola but I'm not sure they'll be able to eat anything other than their small nymphs. Care must be taken not to let them run out of food, or else they can cannibalize on their young, especially on their young offspring. I am keeping them quite humid, at around 75-85F°.

Here are some pictures of one of them:

At around 6 mms long this a truly tiny arachnid, with some really awesome morphology! Hopefully I can breed these in decent numbers and not only get a sustainable colony established, but then be able to spread them around in the hobby more as well!

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Next up, Alan sent me an adult female and several nymphs of Arenivaga floridensis "Ocala, FL"! The darkest form and last of the major phenotypes I needed to complete my collection of this species. 😁 

Much like the other strains, I have these set up on a couple inches of straight sand, with a third kept humid, the rest bone dry. Moderate ventilation, lots of leaf litter on top of the substrate, and an ambient temperature of 75-85F°. I'm offering dog food and artificial pollen as the staple diet.

Here are some pictures of the adult female:

Oddly I saw her calling for a mate (she was on top of the substrate, with her abodmen raised high in the air), however Alan swears she's a WC female that was exposed to males. So not sure if she's actually mated or not, time will tell and we'll see if the ooths she lays hatch or not.

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He also sent me a group of Elumoides sp. "Miami, FL". Nearly identical morphology as the sp. "Homestead", but these are more of a white color than yellow. Very cute species, I'm really fond of this genus! 😊

I've got them in a small, moderately ventilated enclosure with an inch or so of coconut fiber mixed with leaf litter and a bit of spent Panesthiinae substrate. Keeping them humid and at around 75F°. Offering dog food occasionally as a supplemental food.

Here are some pictures of the cuties:

Hopefully they'll breed well for me!

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Alan also sent me some Libitioides sayi forma albolineata, so I can try my hand with that species again, knowing now that this locality probably needs a mild diapause to induce oviposition.

Lastly, he sent me some more Chalcolepidius smaragdinus and webbi larvae, A.patricus larvae and a couple I.havaniensis larvae. Which is great because I could really use more of those first three to help ensure some successful breeding.

Well, that does it for this post, thanks again to Alan for these awesome bugs! Thanks for reading, hope everyone enjoyed, and I'll see you all next time! 😉