6 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

So out of the colonies I have, C. sansabeanus is still not doing well. The few nanitics are alive, the queen is alive, there's a tiny handful of brood not developing, and nothing is going on. I have them on heat just like all the other colonies. You guys have told me C. sansabeanus doesn't need diapause/brumination, but they are acting kind of odd for that. The only other Camponotus I have are fragilis, who are doing well.

 

(I try giving them food but nothing really seems to happen. I even gave them a partially alive mealworm which got the queen to come out and bite it/sting it a few times, but that was it. Mealworm just sits there dead and no one touches it.)

 

I don't have a wine fridge. Garage is too warm (California). (I had them in there for a few weeks.)

Somewhere somewhere mentioned a brief cold shock can get queens laying again?

Or should I stick them in the kitchen fridge for a few months?

Any advice?

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, January 23 2020 - 2:37 PM.

[B_rad0806]

It's winter. Their brood won't develop. Wait till spring. 

[OhNoNotAgain]

It's winter. Their brood won't develop. Wait till spring. 

 

 

Everyone else seems to be developing ("They don't need diapause" was said of every colony I have  ). However I see dspdrew hibernated his: 

 https://www.formicul...dated-8-5-2018/

Although everyone says they don't hibernate, I'm guessing they do.

 

Do you suggest I take them off heat and put them in the food fridge?

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, January 24 2020 - 9:36 AM.

[Manitobant]

They need hibernation.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Okay next week after I take them in to school kids they will go in the vegetable crisper drawer (I guess!).

Hopefully none of the other colonies actually need hibernation.

[nurbs]

They do not need hibernation in the sense of putting them in the fridge. Just don't heat them and keep them cool. All mine are at about 55-60F, on a shelf right next to window. 

 

Hibernation temps are 45F for Modocs, Laevigatus, Vicinus, etc. 

 

C. sansabeanus, like all camps, slow down in the Winter, and your brood will not develop. That's normal. What is important is to keep them cool and give the colony a respite. Once Spring hits you can warm them up and should see a new clutch of eggs from the queen. 

 

Drew's sansa colonies never get big. The only large colony he had, he got from me haha. 

[OhNoNotAgain]

They do not need hibernation in the sense of putting them in the fridge. Just don't heat them and keep them cool. All mine are at about 55-60F, on a shelf right next to window. 

 

Hibernation temps are 45F for Modocs, Laevigatus, Vicinus, etc. 

 

C. sansabeanus, like all camps, slow down in the Winter, and your brood will not develop. That's normal. What is important is to keep them cool and give the colony a respite. Once Spring hits you can warm them up and should see a new clutch of eggs from the queen. 

 

Drew's sansa colonies never get big. The only large colony he had, he got from me haha. 

Gah, so you're saying I shoulda just left them in the garage after all!!

 

Urg. All my colonies are still on heat because they just seem to be producing so well. I just took sansabeanus off (again I was going to stick them in the crisper after the school thing next week).... Do I need to shut off heat for all of them?