13 replies to this topic

[SardineBoy6.0]

hi,

my queen has stopped laying eggs and the brood stopped growing plus the ants aren't foraging or eating. i fed them some cat food to see if that would make a difrence but to no avail. pls help

[KitsAntVa]

They are slowing down for hibernation, also please state what species your ants are.

[SardineBoy6.0]

the species is t immigrans

[KitsAntVa]

Where exactly do you live, you do not have to tell me the exact province just state and how hot it is during fall and winter.

[Manitobant]

they're ready for hibernation. Stick em in the fridge for a few months and they should get back to eating.

[Ants_Dakota]

yes. this species can be kept inside without hibernation if you want, although they will still slow down. you might need to feed them more protein too.

[SardineBoy6.0]

i live in california its usually around 70 degrees

yes. this species can be kept inside without hibernation if you want, although they will still slow down. you might need to feed them more protein too.

yes but they arent eating the protein i give them

[Ants_Dakota]

i live in california its usually around 70 degrees

yes. this species can be kept inside without hibernation if you want, although they will still slow down. you might need to feed them more protein too.

yes but they arent eating the protein i give them

give it time, maybe. i don't think you need to hibernate them if you are in california.

[SardineBoy6.0]

 

i live in california its usually around 70 degrees

yes. this species can be kept inside without hibernation if you want, although they will still slow down. you might need to feed them more protein too.

yes but they arent eating the protein i give them

give it time, maybe. i don't think you need to hibernate them if you are in california.

 

but i gave it to them 2 weeks ago

[Ants_Dakota]

i don't know then. maybe their instincts that right now is hibernation time is kicking in.

[KitsAntVa]

If you caught them in any part where it gets under 55 or is around 55 during winter and fall then they are ready to hibernate and they will not eat at all grow at all or move at all. They will curl up but they are not dead.

[OhNoNotAgain]

What does the outside temperature get to in the part of California those ants came from? 

Last year I think I put my Tetramorium and some other species in the garage for part of the winter. All my ants stopped growing over the winter, even the desert ants that I kept inside (though part of that is I turned off their heat).

None of them went into strict diapause - if I checked on them they were still moving around and awake - but their food needs and growth went way down.

[ANTdrew]

Tetramorium only respond to temperature when it comes to hibernation. I’ve kept colonies going up until Thanksgiving when it was in the 20s outside. If your colony is still at the same temperature, but is showing this behavior then something else is wrong. You may as well hibernate them if they’re not growing, but I’ll say once again that I don’t think that’s the issue. I think it is something like an illness: Tetramorium should not behave this way.

[SardineBoy6.0]

Tetramorium only respond to temperature when it comes to hibernation. I’ve kept colonies going up until Thanksgiving when it was in the 20s outside. If your colony is still at the same temperature, but is showing this behavior then something else is wrong. You may as well hibernate them if they’re not growing, but I’ll say once again that I don’t think that’s the issue. I think it is something like an illness: Tetramorium should not behave this way.

then what should i do if it is an illness (also sorry for the late reply i was on vacation)