6 replies to this topic

[mamr123]

I have a colony of Novomessor cockerelli that I bought last year with 1 queen and 5 workers.  The colony made it up to about 15 workers, but then almost all of them died from December-April, and I thought the colony wasn't going to survive.  But over the summer, they did amazing!   Now there are about 100 workers.

 

I am wondering if I should do anything differently this winter-- last winter I took off their heat, and kept them at room temp. (60-70 degrees).  

 

This winter, should I keep them heated the whole time?  Is it normal to loose a lot of ants in winter?

 

I am also open to advice about how to keep the population stable-- I don't actually want a much bigger colony to care for, and would prefer not to have another huge population explosion next summer.

 

Thank you!!

[BleepingBleepers]

First, I saw this thread which might serve some interest to you.

 

https://www.formicul...li-hibernation/

 

Please check it as well, but I'm seeing that it's a desert ant and doesn't require a diapause.

 

I have ZERO experience with your type of ant, however, I am going through similar thoughts as my Camponotus CA02 is said to not require one. HOWEVER, I found one interesting post that I will follow it. Basically, instead of just putting them on diapause because I THINK that's what I'm supposed to do, I'll let the ants decide. The only thing that I do plan to do is keep their temperature on the lower / lowest range but they can still develop through the fall and winter. The signs that I'll be looking for is when their brood like their larvae show little or no development over a period of time and/or seeing if the queen's activity like egg laying decreases a significant amount. If I notice that, that's when I'll gradually put her on cooldown, otherwise, I will not and just run it in a state mentioned to cause her the least stress through the cold season while she continues to reproduce.

 

My CA02 queen seems to have other plans and has instead been laying eggs like crazy, so I'll just watch and monitor them.

Honestly, it took me awhile to come up with that resolution, being a new ant keeper myself and hearing multiple different info on the matter, after a couple of months of researching, that's what I've come up with.

[B_rad0806]

For these guys and other desert species you can heat year round 

[OhNoNotAgain]

I was told to take desert ants off heat in the winter to give them a break. My Novos, Veros, and C. fragilis go off heat for the winter.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, October 30 2023 - 9:19 AM.

[mamr123]

Great, thank you for the link and the advice!

[B_rad0806]

I was told to take desert ants off heat in the winter to give them a break. My Novos, Veros, and C. fragilis go off heat for the winter.

Nah there's no point in taking them off

[OhNoNotAgain]

 

I was told to take desert ants off heat in the winter to give them a break. My Novos, Veros, and C. fragilis go off heat for the winter.

Nah there's no point in taking them off

 

Yeah but you know who suggested it ... Nurbs.