9 replies to this topic

[AnthonyP163]

Today, it got below freezing. That's 30 degrees. My ants are in my garage, and my garage is only a few degrees above the outside temperature. All the ants are native, so they would hibernate like this in the wild. But should I keep them out there, even in deep winter when it gets to about 20 degrees? Or should I move them to a bit warmer place?
I checked on them, they all seem fine. It's December and January I'm worried about.

[CallMeCraven]

I would leave them but try wrapping them in some sort of insulation like old blankets or bubble wrap. Although they are from your area, they are adapted to hibernation in some sort of medium, like dirt or wood (sorry I don't know what species you have ), that would insulate them from the extreme temperatures. You would be amazed how well soil acts as an insulator in the ecosystem.

[T.C.]

Hey Anthony, Like you i live in Wisconsin. I have my C pennsylvanicus queen in the garage. She is in a styrofoam like wrap right now which I am hoping will protect her from potential frost.. What species is yours? Also when did you put them out? I am hoping you put them out a few weeks ago so they could slowly enter into hibernation as the temp slowly drops. However if you took them from room temperature and then put them in those kind of temperatures... don't count on them being alive when you take them back out.

 

I have done a lot of temperature testing with ants, and you cannot put ants from room temp to anything below 30 degrees. They will die!

[AnthonyP163]

A few colonies since October, others since the beginning of November. Would it be a good idea by putting dirt or sand in for them? I have C. pennsylvanicus, Tetramorium, Crematogaster Cerasi, Formica Pallidefulva, I also have a few un ID'd ants, and some Lasius Neoniger. So I pretty much have just about every ant there is around here lol except for a few.

I think that they'd be ok?

[CallMeCraven]

If you don't want dirt in with them I wouldn't put it in. I was just using it as an example of how they make it through the winter in their natural environments during cold snaps. Anything you can wrap around them that creates "dead" space will insulate them. Blanket, foam, old clothes, bubble wrap.... just a few ideas.

[AnthonyP163]

Ok, I put sand in every one of the tubes, and I put some bubble wrap over them also. Should this work??

[AnthonyP163]

https://imgur.com/gallery/TxDVuHere's a picture of it.

[CallMeCraven]

ideally you could fill the box with bubble wrap with then ants in the center. What you want to create are spaces where there is trapped pockets of air. Honestly if you carefully stack your test tubes in a pyramid, and then wrapped them as many times and your bubble wrap will go, you should be fine. Do not over think the cold to much. To you it may seem very cold but as long as you keep them above freezing they will probably be ok. I can't imagine your garage drops that low .

[AnthonyP163]

My concern is if someone leaves the garage open or something, that could let the super cold air in. And it's already below freezing, it's REALLY cold here.

[T.C.]

My concern is if someone leaves the garage open or something, that could let the super cold air in. And it's already below freezing, it's REALLY cold here.

The small garage door on the side for people, not vehicles. The door isn't even on so cold wind is blowing in, and my C pennsylvanicus are just fine. Also we live in the same state correct? Wisconsin?