Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Taking colonies out of hibernation?

Started By Spazmops , Jan 30 2021 8:04 PM

  • Please log in to reply
2 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Spazmops - Posted January 30 2021 - 8:04 PM

Spazmops

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 558 posts
  • LocationDenver, Colorado

I currently have 1 T. immigrans, 1 F. fusca group colony, and 2 unidentified Lasius colonies hibernating in my garage. They were put in on Halloween last year, and they're all doing fine. My plan was to take them out once I saw wild local ants foraging around April or so, but that seems like an awfully long time compared to what I see recommended, which is usually 3-4 months. What do you guys think?


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#2 Offline gs5248 - Posted January 30 2021 - 9:50 PM

gs5248

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 473 posts
  • LocationSacramento California

I think taking them out now would be okay.


  • AnthonyP163 likes this

#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 31 2021 - 3:23 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,973 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Three to four months is plenty, so you could start thinking about bringing them out soon. The only downside is that heating colonies in the middle of winter is a PITA.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
Back to General Ant Keeping · Next Unread Topic →


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users