7 replies to this topic

[Whitelotus]

I am not certain if anyone has had this happen before but, one of my Formica queens after hibernation has refused to lay eggs for what has been a few weeks now. 

Sadly all of her workers have died during hibernation and were unwilling to eat prior to hibernation, and during the hibernation period. The Queen is all that remains sadly and just sits in her test tube. Any advice on this sort of occurrence?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

That sort of stuff just happens sometimes in this hobby, and she may well die. Your situation almost certainly isn't your fault; it happens to everyone. Best case scenario, she burned through her fat stores, and you can replenish them by giving her a tiny bit of honey or a cricket leg to eat. The loss of her workers may also be the cause, so if you feel confident in your ability to locate an identical or closely related Formica colony, you could steal a few wild cocoons and give them to your queen. Sadly, she may have just experienced some inexplicable failure of the reproductive system. Good luck and I hope she pulls through!

[RushmoreAnts]

I think brood boosting would be the best option. She probably had become at least somewhat dependent on her workers.

[Ants_Dakota]

I have had many colonies refuse to lay eggs after winter. I agree with AntsDakota on this one, especially with formica.

[Whitelotus]

So after leaving my Formica Queen with a selection of various foods for a week and a half, I checked up on her and she has a new clump of eggs so she is still fertile at this point.

[Canadant]

Took me three years to get them through the winter. Their tough to start. Mine are soooooo skittish too.

Glad to here she chose to make a colony. Better on a full stomach I guess.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Most things are

[RushmoreAnts]

Took me three years to get them through the winter.

Do you mean you attempted hibernation with three colonies?