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How do Carpenter ants withstand cold?
Started By
Max_Connor
, Nov 6 2021 7:29 AM
5 replies to this topic
#1 Offline - Posted November 6 2021 - 7:29 AM
Carpenter ants in Northern hemisphere can survive winters as cold as -30°C and lower, being protected just by the bark of a tree.
I can barely imagine how trees can keep the temperature above zero inside them, even though they slow down all the plants' cellular processes by a great factor and certainly don't produce much heat.
Is it the bark that isolates the insides and the ants so well? And how often ants just die from an extremely low temperature?
I can barely imagine how trees can keep the temperature above zero inside them, even though they slow down all the plants' cellular processes by a great factor and certainly don't produce much heat.
Is it the bark that isolates the insides and the ants so well? And how often ants just die from an extremely low temperature?
#2 Offline - Posted November 6 2021 - 9:16 AM
Unlike many other ants that dig deep into the ground in order to escape the cold, camponotus produce a natural antifreeze in their blood that prevents them from freezing to death. Its a very effective strategy that allows camponotus to thrive in areas that get too cold for most other genera to survive.
- ANTdrew and eea like this
My journals:
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/
#3 Offline - Posted November 6 2021 - 9:39 AM
Also, trees do not keep their temperature above zero. They too build up antifreeze in their sap by concentrating sugars that lower the freezing point.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
#4 Offline - Posted November 6 2021 - 7:43 PM
Ok, thank you
But why is it advised that you should hibernate your ants at say 2 - 8 C and never let it get below zero? As if ants would die as soon as the temperature goes below.
Because this temperature is optimal, but ants don't actually die at a slightly lower temperature?
Edited by Max_Connor, November 6 2021 - 7:43 PM.
#5 Offline - Posted November 6 2021 - 7:47 PM
I have no experience with hibernating ants as I have kept pretty much only desert ants.
But, I believe most people don't hibernate in sub-zero temperatures because not everyone may have access to devices that make things that cold as well as it's unneeded stress for the ants in captivity. Just getting them to hibernating temperatures should be just fine for their natural cycle.
#6 Offline - Posted November 7 2021 - 3:03 AM
Below zero temps would probably be fine, but it is not advised because it is hard to replicate the gradual cool down ants need to prepare for such cold in captivity. Also, it is unnecessary.Ok, thank you
But why is it advised that you should hibernate your ants at say 2 - 8 C and never let it get below zero? As if ants would die as soon as the temperature goes below.
Because this temperature is optimal, but ants don't actually die at a slightly lower temperature?
- Kaelwizard and OiledOlives like 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.
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
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