INVERTEBRATE LURES AND TRAPPING METHODS
FOR FEEDING HERPETOFAUNA
Ron Dencio
Animal Technologist
Monaro Amphibian & Reptile Keepers
Canberra ACT
13 Feb 2002
One of the continuing problems confronting lizard and frog keepers
is obtaining a regular supply and variety of live food to keep their
animals in good health and condition. This is particularly an issue
where animals are required to breed, produce healthy offspring and maintain
good condition.
The problem is addressed to some degree by the increasing availability,
through pet shops, of cultured insects such as crickets, cockroaches,
mealworms and in some instances blowflies, their larvae or pupae.
A greater variety may be obtained with the use of some simple methods
of luring and capturing a range of invertebrates in your own back yard.
The following lure methods usually work best between late Spring and
mid Autumn in the Canberra district.
- Drosophila or Vinegar Flies may be collected by putting ripe
or over ripe fruit pieces into a plastic ice cream container, covering
with wire mesh no smaller than 6mm x 6mm (¼"x ¼").
Place container outside in a shaded, protected area (avoid rain or
sprinklers). A small amount of port wine may be sprinkled on the fruit
as an added attractant. Alternatively the blowfly trap described below
may be used in place of the ice cream container. The flies will lay
their eggs on the fruit, these will hatch into tiny larvae (maggots)
and when full grown will pupate and finally hatch as the adult Vinegar
Fly. Gently remove the pupae from the walls of the container using
a soft haired paint brush transfer them to a small clean container
/ jar cover with a piece of fly mesh, place container in tank / cabinet
with small frogs or lizards and remove mesh top when pupae begin to
hatch. For outdoor enclosures the ice cream container with mesh top
may be left in a protected area in the enclosure.
- Blowflies of various species may be trapped using a plastic
soft drink (PET) bottle with the top cut off and inverted back into
the top of the body of the bottle as a funnel trap entrance. With
a small pair of scissors, use the tip of one blade to make several
2mm holes around the body of the bottle about 50mm up from its base.
A 25 to 30mm depth of damp (not wet) sand may be placed in the bottom
of the bottle for stability. Place some raw meat / fish in the bottom
of the bottle. Place inverted neck into top of bottle body and secure
with a couple of tabs of Masking (sticky) tape, sit or hang in a shady,
protected area in the backyard (not too close to houses). Check each
day and release trapped flies into a clear plastic bag placed over
the top of the trap before releasing one masking tape tab and hinging
the funnel upward. The plastic bag should measure around 300mmW x
500mmL (12" x 20").
- Moths and other night flying insects can be trapped outdoors
by using the above mentioned funnel trap (minus bait) under a 40watt
light globe. The funnel trap entrance will need to be placed 40 -
50mm directly beneath the globe which needs to be turned on at dusk
through to dawn. The globe and electrical fittings must be protected
from rain etc. Slightly moistened (not soaked), crumpled paper tissue
should be placed in the bottom of the trap to give the insects refuge
and prevent dehydration.
- NOTE: Any wasps collected in traps should be discarded and
not fed to Reptiles or frogs. Honey Bees, however can usually be handled
by adult Australian dragons such as Bearded and Water Dragons.
- Termites can be found under old fallen eucalypt branches
and sticks lying on the ground in bushland. The termites can be collected
using a narrow paint brush (the type used for painting window frames).
Use a separate container for each lot you collect, as termites do
not tolerate others from different nests or a different species. The
termites may be gently brushed off the wood and off the ground into
small containers such as 35mm plastic film canisters. To keep the
termites alive for an extended period, place each lot in larger separate
containers such as jam jars with slightly moistened paper tissue.
This will supply moisture as well as food in the form of cellulose.
- Ants may be attracted to an outdoor enclosure using a small
amount of sugar or sugar cubes protected in a wire mesh container.
Many juvenile Dragon species consume large quantities of small ants,
during their early developmental stages.
- Caution: Do Not allow an enclosure to be overrun by ants
as large numbers can attack and kill your captive reptiles.
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