10 replies to this topic

[AntsMAN]

I left them to hibernate in my hall way 60F (15C), in early November giving them little to no food and water every few weeks. We then moved to a new house where they were bumped around in a car and exposed to cold, then a family death, and I left them for 4 weeks with nothing in a box put away.

When I got around to checking them they had molded badly and 4 whole colonies were dead, and 8 test tube queens. I still have a couple of queens left, I gave them all food and cleaned out the formicariums to reuse, and put them on a heating cable, they all seem to be responding to the heat, moving closer. I have a Formica subsericea queen with 5 workers, three Camponotus sp. with 5+ workers, and two Lasius sp. with 3 and 4 workers. I want to move them all due to the dirty test tubes. should I wait or move them right away? and any suggestions on hibernating would be great too. Thanks.

Edited by AntsMAN, August 30 2016 - 6:49 AM.

[drtrmiller]

60 C??

[Mads]

I think he means 6 degrees celcius.

[AntsMAN]

Sorry yes 60°F 10°C

[drtrmiller]

It's difficult to say, but something went horribly wrong, given the widespread deaths. All you can do is to feed them sweets and small dead insects, ensure they have constant access to clean water and warmth, and leave them alone in hope that they recover.

[Miles]

In my experience, this kind of event is typically a result of dehydration. 

[Crystals]

In my experience, this kind of event is typically a result of dehydration. 

I agree.  In my experience, during hibernation ants require fairly high humidity or a damp nest.  Some species need it pretty damp (for example, all my Myrmica prefer a damp nest with high humidity during hiberation, but are very tolerant of dryer conditions outside of hibernation).

 

Some species may have died if temperatures dropped too low in transit.  The species you listed are usually pretty hardy with cooler temperatures, but if the temperature dropped to near freezing in transit - or if they were drying out during cold temperatures - it is very easy to lose entire colonies.

 

If possible, move colonies to a clean setup.  I usually move colonies to a new test tube when they come out of hibernation (in my mind, they deserve fresh water at the very least - I don't like drinking water after it sat in glass overnight, let alone for weeks on end ).

[AntsMAN]

Ok, thanks everyone, I'll get them cleaned up and take some pictures.

[Trailandstreet]

Most "accidents", which occur durijng hibernation are either dehydration or drowning.

[dspdrew]

I had a queen that was sticking out of an ice cube once.

[Barristan]

I had a queen that was sticking out of an ice cube once.

 

The ant keeper and the ice queen.