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

Hibernation

Started By Topgun757 , Oct 8 2021 2:32 PM

  • Please log in to reply
8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 8 2021 - 2:32 PM

Topgun757

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 53 posts
  • LocationManitoba Canada
I have a Camponotus Novaeboracensis Queen in a THA mini hearth (I moved her early because her test tube had a huge mold outbreak) with 2 small larvae. I’m about to hibernate her so I just fed her a frozen aphid, is there anything else I should do (other then keep watering the nest during hibernation)? The aphid and food reserves should be able to get her through the winter right?
  • Antkeeper01 likes this
2x Camponotus novaeboracensis
1 Camponotus pensylvanicus
1 Teramorium immigrans
1 Lasius neoniger
Still getting over the loss of my Dolichoderus taschenbergii queen.

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 8 2021 - 3:24 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,946 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Make sure they are tanked up on nectar. That will be more important than protein to get them through diapause. Keep the nest hydrated and in a cool, but stable temp. That’s about it.
  • ConcordAntman likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 8 2021 - 9:00 PM

Topgun757

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 53 posts
  • LocationManitoba Canada

How should I give the queen nectar? She doesn’t go to the outworld and she doesn’t have workers yet.


2x Camponotus novaeboracensis
1 Camponotus pensylvanicus
1 Teramorium immigrans
1 Lasius neoniger
Still getting over the loss of my Dolichoderus taschenbergii queen.

#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 9 2021 - 2:38 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,946 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA

How should I give the queen nectar? She doesn’t go to the outworld and she doesn’t have workers yet.

Try offering some with a nestmate. Also, after reading your post more carefully, I say let those larvae grow into workers before hibernating. Don’t worry about the calendar date.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 9 2021 - 10:40 AM

Topgun757

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 53 posts
  • LocationManitoba Canada
They don’t really seem to be developing much, they’ve been the same size for a week. Any ideas on how i could get them developing again? I don’t have a heating cable.
2x Camponotus novaeboracensis
1 Camponotus pensylvanicus
1 Teramorium immigrans
1 Lasius neoniger
Still getting over the loss of my Dolichoderus taschenbergii queen.

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 9 2021 - 1:28 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,946 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Heat is what you need.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 9 2021 - 2:06 PM

Topgun757

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 53 posts
  • LocationManitoba Canada
Is there anything else I can do? I have her in a cupboard under my desk in a fairly warm room (it only has1 AC vent and I keep the window partially open to warm the room up, along with a heated aquarium that’s above it on the desk, so I think it has enough heat). My eyes might be deceiving me but there might be a tiny difference in the size of the larvae after being fed that aphid.
2x Camponotus novaeboracensis
1 Camponotus pensylvanicus
1 Teramorium immigrans
1 Lasius neoniger
Still getting over the loss of my Dolichoderus taschenbergii queen.

#8 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted October 11 2021 - 12:16 PM

ConcordAntman

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 767 posts
  • LocationMassachusetts

A simple heater could be a low wattage incandescent bulb aimed toward your formicarium. I’d have a thermometer nearby to help you moderate the temperature though. Wie the water tower and nestmate to make sure the nest doesn’t dry out. 


#9 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 13 2021 - 9:00 AM

Topgun757

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 53 posts
  • LocationManitoba Canada
I think the aphid will be enough, I placed her into hibernation yesterday. I will have a heater ready for them when they wake up!
2x Camponotus novaeboracensis
1 Camponotus pensylvanicus
1 Teramorium immigrans
1 Lasius neoniger
Still getting over the loss of my Dolichoderus taschenbergii queen.
Back to General Ant Keeping · Next Unread Topic →


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users