2 replies to this topic

[Rob11420]

So I recently got a wine cooler to hibernate my ants in but I'm not 100% sure if it's safe to put all my colonies in at the same temperature (10°c) as they are from different countries (England, Italy and Greece). I have seven different species:

 

(England)

1. Lasius Niger

2. Myrmica Rubra

3. Temnothorax Nylanderi

(Italy)

4. Messor Capitatus

5. Cataglyphis Italica

(Greece)

6. Nylanderia Vividula 

7. Camponotus Ionius

 

The two that I'm most unsure about are 5 and 6.

 

I can't find a lot of information online about Cataglyphis Italica and I'm not even sure if Nylanderia Vividula hibernate at all!

 

Can anyone please help me with this? I would really appreciate it  

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I wouldn't hibernate 4, 5, 6, or 7 in a fridge. Just remove the heating cable. I would even still offer them food every once in a while. I would also love to see pictures and a journal for your Cataglyphis.

[Rob11420]

I wouldn't hibernate 4, 5, 6, or 7 in a fridge. Just remove the heating cable. I would even still offer them food every once in a while. I would also love to see pictures and a journal for your Cataglyphis.

Thank you for the quick reply    The thing is, I don't use a heat cable or heat mat because the temperature in my flat is normally quite high, around 26°c (sometimes up to 29°c) and doesn't really drop below 23°c. Will the Messor and Camponotus be okay with that? Do you think 10°c is too cold for them?

Last year I put the Lasius and Myrmica in the fridge but the temperature wasn't very consistent and dropped to 1-2°c so about a 1/3 of the workers died  I put the Camponotus between a double window and tried to regulate the temperature (aiming for 15°c) by opening or closing the inside or outside windows, however when I was out one night the temperature dropped below 0°c but luckily they survived. I didn't hibernate the Messor (not enough space by window) or the Nylanderia. The Cataglyphis and Temnothorax were caught this year.

I have a few videos/photos of the Cataglyphis but they are not the greatest quality but yeah I think I will make a journal about them    they seem to be doing well and have about 18 workers but no brood at the moment.