7 replies to this topic

[azzaaazzzz00]

I don't know if the fact that my ants are in the garage and with no heating will effect when I my ants go into dispause. I have oly Nylanderia flavipes colonies, a Camponotus colony, and a Tetramorium colony at the moment. Is now a good time to let them hibernate?

[United-Ants]

It is not a good time to hibernate start hibernateion in October or November

[ANTdrew]

Your garage probably still gets crazy hot in the afternoons. Just let the colonies keep going until it cools down naturally outside.

[azzaaazzzz00]

How cold should it be outside for the ants to go into hibernation. Its usually around 70 in the morning and at night and 80 in the afternoon.

[ANTdrew]

Most ants will shut down when highs are in the 60s. In your situation, you don’t have to “do” anything for them to hibernate. They just will when it gets cooler.

Edited by ANTdrew, September 7 2022 - 4:52 PM.

[T.C.]

I hibernate all my colonies in the garage. Here in Wisconsin I wait for late October on a warmer day and I put them out. This way they slowly sink into the falling temperatures and within a week it's almost freezing temperatures out. I will  pull them out late february. Of course this only applies to native species. 

[azzaaazzzz00]

should I put any sort of heating in case any of the drinking water from freezes?

[T.C.]

should I put any sort of heating in case any of the drinking water from freezes?

No, do not do that. That will mess with their hibernation. Just be sure the nest is always humid, so on days the nest isn't freezing, it's not drying out.