8 replies to this topic

[Artisan_Ants]

So it’s been a while since I caught my P. imparis queen; about a year. She now has a colony of about 30 or so workers, all nice and healthy, with only one death in the past three weeks. I noticed that they never, yeah and I mean NEVER laid any eggs after reaching about 30 workers. I feed them protein (as in mealworms) and sugar water, along with honey, but still no eggs. Is it something to do with feeding issues, like the same food as in protein, since I always feed them mealworms, as a protein source; or is it a temperature problem, because it is 72º F range in my ant room, and I heard that they prefer colder temperature to thrive. Or is it a housing problem? I do have a Bifurcated Mini Hearth at hand, so I could use that, but I just wanted to know, because this is really surprising me; ever since I moved them into a clean test tube.

[Manitobant]

Have you ever tried hibernating them? Despite liking cold temperatures, prenolepis imparis still require an actual diapause in the fridge

[Artisan_Ants]

Have you ever tried hibernating them? Despite liking cold temperatures, prenolepis imparis still require an actual diapause in the fridge

No, I actually haven’t tried that. I thought about it before, but I knew that they would relax, or take a break in the summer time.

[Manitobant]

that's definitely it then. Many ants will stop laying eggs until after hibernation, so putting them in the fridge for a few months should fix this issue.

Edited by Manitobant, February 17 2024 - 1:43 PM.

[FormiCanada]

So it’s been a while since I caught my P. imparis queen; about a year. She now has a colony of about 30 or so workers, all nice and healthy, with only one death in the past three weeks. I noticed that they never, yeah and I mean NEVER laid any eggs after reaching about 30 workers. I feed them protein (as in mealworms) and sugar water, along with honey, but still no eggs. Is it something to do with feeding issues, like the same food as in protein, since I always feed them mealworms, as a protein source; or is it a temperature problem, because it is 72º F range in my ant room, and I heard that they prefer colder temperature to thrive. Or is it a housing problem? I do have a Bifurcated Mini Hearth at hand, so I could use that, but I just wanted to know, because this is really surprising me; ever since I moved them into a clean test tube.

 

 

These ants are popular amongst antkeepers because they resemble honeypot ants with their distended abdomens. Although this is their selling point, they're generally very idle ants and don't really do much. The fridge or cold-cellar will do well, as would a cooler basement. 

 

Otherwise, your colony has a nice set of workers and is doing well! Make sure that their environment doesn't dry up as they don't do well in dry conditions at all.

 

Cheers!

[Artisan_Ants]

So it’s been a while since I caught my P. imparis queen; about a year. She now has a colony of about 30 or so workers, all nice and healthy, with only one death in the past three weeks. I noticed that they never, yeah and I mean NEVER laid any eggs after reaching about 30 workers. I feed them protein (as in mealworms) and sugar water, along with honey, but still no eggs. Is it something to do with feeding issues, like the same food as in protein, since I always feed them mealworms, as a protein source; or is it a temperature problem, because it is 72º F range in my ant room, and I heard that they prefer colder temperature to thrive. Or is it a housing problem? I do have a Bifurcated Mini Hearth at hand, so I could use that, but I just wanted to know, because this is really surprising me; ever since I moved them into a clean test tube.

 
These ants are popular amongst antkeepers because they resemble honeypot ants with their distended abdomens. Although this is their selling point, they're generally very idle ants and don't really do much. The fridge or cold-cellar will do well, as would a cooler basement. 
 
Otherwise, your colony has a nice set of workers and is doing well! Make sure that their environment doesn't dry up as they don't do well in dry conditions at all.
 
Cheers!

Thanks for the information! I’ll try and keep them on an ice pack, and see if that helps (I’ll switch it out often) but if that doesn’t work then I’ll just put them in my fridge with the rest of my hibernating colonies. Although it is pretty cold in there so I’m considering to get a cooling mat, since it won’t creat condensation like that of and ice pack. Anyways, thanks for the info.
 

[FormiCanada]

 

 

So it’s been a while since I caught my P. imparis queen; about a year. She now has a colony of about 30 or so workers, all nice and healthy, with only one death in the past three weeks. I noticed that they never, yeah and I mean NEVER laid any eggs after reaching about 30 workers. I feed them protein (as in mealworms) and sugar water, along with honey, but still no eggs. Is it something to do with feeding issues, like the same food as in protein, since I always feed them mealworms, as a protein source; or is it a temperature problem, because it is 72º F range in my ant room, and I heard that they prefer colder temperature to thrive. Or is it a housing problem? I do have a Bifurcated Mini Hearth at hand, so I could use that, but I just wanted to know, because this is really surprising me; ever since I moved them into a clean test tube.

 
These ants are popular amongst antkeepers because they resemble honeypot ants with their distended abdomens. Although this is their selling point, they're generally very idle ants and don't really do much. The fridge or cold-cellar will do well, as would a cooler basement. 
 
Otherwise, your colony has a nice set of workers and is doing well! Make sure that their environment doesn't dry up as they don't do well in dry conditions at all.
 
Cheers!

Thanks for the information! I’ll try and keep them on an ice pack, and see if that helps (I’ll switch it out often) but if that doesn’t work then I’ll just put them in my fridge with the rest of my hibernating colonies. Although it is pretty cold in there so I’m considering to get a cooling mat, since it won’t creat condensation like that of and ice pack. Anyways, thanks for the info.
 

 

 

 

I've never heard of a cooling mat before! I would recommend simply to put them in the fridge. Condensation is bound to happen regardless and it's best not to "maintain" the ants regularly. They like their peace and quiet. 

Cheers!
 

[Artisan_Ants]

So it’s been a while since I caught my P. imparis queen; about a year. She now has a colony of about 30 or so workers, all nice and healthy, with only one death in the past three weeks. I noticed that they never, yeah and I mean NEVER laid any eggs after reaching about 30 workers. I feed them protein (as in mealworms) and sugar water, along with honey, but still no eggs. Is it something to do with feeding issues, like the same food as in protein, since I always feed them mealworms, as a protein source; or is it a temperature problem, because it is 72º F range in my ant room, and I heard that they prefer colder temperature to thrive. Or is it a housing problem? I do have a Bifurcated Mini Hearth at hand, so I could use that, but I just wanted to know, because this is really surprising me; ever since I moved them into a clean test tube.

 
These ants are popular amongst antkeepers because they resemble honeypot ants with their distended abdomens. Although this is their selling point, they're generally very idle ants and don't really do much. The fridge or cold-cellar will do well, as would a cooler basement. 
 
Otherwise, your colony has a nice set of workers and is doing well! Make sure that their environment doesn't dry up as they don't do well in dry conditions at all.
 
Cheers!

Thanks for the information! I’ll try and keep them on an ice pack, and see if that helps (I’ll switch it out often) but if that doesn’t work then I’ll just put them in my fridge with the rest of my hibernating colonies. Although it is pretty cold in there so I’m considering to get a cooling mat, since it won’t creat condensation like that of and ice pack. Anyways, thanks for the info.

 
 
I've never heard of a cooling mat before! I would recommend simply to put them in the fridge. Condensation is bound to happen regardless and it's best not to "maintain" the ants regularly. They like their peace and quiet. 
Cheers!

Thanks for the info! I’ll get them into my fridge as fast as possible. And a cooling mat is a mat you can use for reptiles. It’s basically a heating mat for reptiles, but you can reduce the temperature as needed.

[FormiCanada]

 

 

 

 

So it’s been a while since I caught my P. imparis queen; about a year. She now has a colony of about 30 or so workers, all nice and healthy, with only one death in the past three weeks. I noticed that they never, yeah and I mean NEVER laid any eggs after reaching about 30 workers. I feed them protein (as in mealworms) and sugar water, along with honey, but still no eggs. Is it something to do with feeding issues, like the same food as in protein, since I always feed them mealworms, as a protein source; or is it a temperature problem, because it is 72º F range in my ant room, and I heard that they prefer colder temperature to thrive. Or is it a housing problem? I do have a Bifurcated Mini Hearth at hand, so I could use that, but I just wanted to know, because this is really surprising me; ever since I moved them into a clean test tube.

 
These ants are popular amongst antkeepers because they resemble honeypot ants with their distended abdomens. Although this is their selling point, they're generally very idle ants and don't really do much. The fridge or cold-cellar will do well, as would a cooler basement. 
 
Otherwise, your colony has a nice set of workers and is doing well! Make sure that their environment doesn't dry up as they don't do well in dry conditions at all.
 
Cheers!

Thanks for the information! I’ll try and keep them on an ice pack, and see if that helps (I’ll switch it out often) but if that doesn’t work then I’ll just put them in my fridge with the rest of my hibernating colonies. Although it is pretty cold in there so I’m considering to get a cooling mat, since it won’t creat condensation like that of and ice pack. Anyways, thanks for the info.

 
 
I've never heard of a cooling mat before! I would recommend simply to put them in the fridge. Condensation is bound to happen regardless and it's best not to "maintain" the ants regularly. They like their peace and quiet. 
Cheers!

Thanks for the info! I’ll get them into my fridge as fast as possible. And a cooling mat is a mat you can use for reptiles. It’s basically a heating mat for reptiles, but you can reduce the temperature as needed.

 

 

 

Is there a human-sized one that I can use in the summer ? hahaha