7 replies to this topic

[MrPurpleB]

I have a founding pogonomyrmex colony, but I go so excited after getting it, I forgot about hibernation. For some reason, I thought I did not need to hibernate these ants for some reason, but now I would just want to make sure.

So, do you have to hibernate a pogonomyrmex colony, or keep them at a certain temperature at this time of year?  

[MrPurpleB]

... 

[Iddizy]

Yeah I was waiting for a reply as well since I kinda did the same thing my queen has a pile of about 10 eggs

[Saftron]

I would hibernate Pogonomyrmex because there is no reason not to. Some queens won't lay eggs until next summer so I would hibernate them and come summer give them a lot of food to recover. Honey/Sugar to give them energy should work.

[MrPurpleB]

Thanks for the info, but do you know what temperature i should keep them in?

[Vendayn]

Pogonomyrmex (most of them anyway, there is one mountain variety that probably need to hibernate) don't need to be hibernated. I have seen Pogonomyrmex californicus colonies active out in the desert, on even extremely cold winter days with a colder wind. Literally must have been 20 degree wind chill, and Pogonomyrmex californicus colonies were still active. Pogonomyrmex rugosus out in Arizona when I went one Winter, were also all active.

 

The Pogonomyrmex californicus I found right by the beach seem to hibernate though. Even though it was a lot warmer than out in the desert. So either actually a different species called the same, or completely optional.

Edited by Vendayn, November 24 2016 - 10:47 PM.

[RapaNui]

I wonder in those conditions how high is the temperature inside the nest ? 

[Vendayn]

I wonder in those conditions how high is the temperature inside the nest ? 

It actually might have been warmer in the nest, the ones I see out by Palm Springs. The ones by the beach the nest might actually be cooler inside the nest. It was partly sunny that day out in the desert, and by the beach it was overcast. I didn't take that into account. For people, it would have felt far colder, than by the beach that day. But, with the sun hitting the nest whenever the sun came out, it could easily have been actually relatively warm for the ants. Which may have been why they were still somewhat active.