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What do ant keepers do in the winter?

Started By evanmancini2011 , Jan 12 2025 1:53 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline evanmancini2011 - Posted January 12 2025 - 1:53 PM

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All of my species of ants are hibernating and I was wondering what do ant keepers do to keep them busy during this time that's ant related?

 

Thank you for your time!

 

Evan Mancini


#2 Offline Demoant - Posted January 12 2025 - 7:32 PM

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i just keep on anting really. The activity kinda evolved into hiking in general but i still bring along catch cups and my aspirator.
Also worth mentioning my ants are still a bit active as the subtropical winter isn't the coldest so i still have to feed them


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#3 Offline Ernteameise - Posted January 12 2025 - 11:28 PM

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Caring for my one tropical species (Acanthomyrmex), checking up on the other colonies at least once a week (mainly if they are still hydrated and have drinking water).

Otherwise, read some scientific ant books, prepare my ant lectures for the German vet conference and play some ant games (Empire of the Ants, Empires of the Undergrowth).


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#4 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted January 13 2025 - 12:11 PM

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All of my species of ants are hibernating and I was wondering what do ant keepers do to keep them busy during this time that's ant related?

 

Thank you for your time!

 

Evan Mancini

I usually build formicariums and prepare for the coming season of growth, and Pogonomyrmex don't have diapause.


Edited by AntsGodzilla, Yesterday, 11:23 AM.

 

And many Carnivorous plants such as: Dionea muscipula (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) (show off your plants here)

Godzilla thread

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

 

#5 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted January 13 2025 - 12:54 PM

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I'm trying to finish the fourth book in _The Famous Flying Ant of Arcadia_ series.

You can see a few of the fun science links I dredged up in the process (see my post in the General section ... I mean ants diving for dinner in Nepenthes pitchers, cool stuff).

 

Also yesterday I checked all the water and sugar water for my garage ants, and tried feeding the Prenolepis some protein.

Gave most of the harvester ants some seeds for the heck of it.

Really need to refill some sugar water for some indoor ants.


Edited by OhNoNotAgain, January 13 2025 - 12:55 PM.

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Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#6 Offline MyrmecologyMaven - Posted January 13 2025 - 5:39 PM

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Personally I either prepare supplies and formicariums for the next growing season or read books. At the moment I really love "The guests of ants". If you haven't read it you have to! It's very interesting.


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#7 Offline Full_Frontal_Yeti - Posted Yesterday, 8:36 AM

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I keep pogonomyrmex occidentalis. Many if not most Pogonomyrmex do not keep to a scheduled diapause, but use it to get through hard times if needed.
Otherwise their environments are often samey year round, and they just take a pause if life gets harsh enough(weather/food/water) to try and wait out the hard times. So as long as the sun shines they make hay.
Year round ants here.

 

The queen will take an egg laying break every so often, but the colony itself never seems to slow down.


Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, Yesterday, 8:37 AM.

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