13 replies to this topic

[T.C.]

Hello all, I just got done checking on my Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen with her larvae today. She is in hibernation with her larvae in the garage . I will for sure feed her when i take her out, but she seems a little too skinny to finish the rest of her hibernation? Will she make it by the looks of her? Should I take her out sooner than normal. She has been in for a little over a month.

 

 

[Serafine]

Add a drop of sugar water to the tube, that should do it.

 

Also does she have water in the tube? She NEEDS water.

Edited by Serafine, December 5 2016 - 2:28 PM.

[Goldsystem]

She may also accept a fruit fly but us salt they prefer a drop of honey or humming bird nectar you can use tinfoil as a plate to keep your test tube clean

[T.C.]

Add a drop of sugar water to the tube, that should do it.

 

Also does she have water in the tube? She NEEDS water.

Yes, it is just such a large test tube that it can't bee seen.

[OTHER]

I should just leave her be, and let her rest in her hibernation. Before she eats all the brood!
Camponotus is fully claustral, so she should be able to go without any food.

Taking her out make`s the chance on losing the brood bigger and bigger.
 

[Batspiderfish]

It is just unusual for a Camponotus queen to be going through hibernation by herself, and that is probably why they are concerned. She can eat any of her larvae if she is actually that hungry.

[OTHER]

It is just unusual for a Camponotus queen to be going through hibernation by herself, and that is probably why they are concerned. She can eat any of her larvae if she is actually that hungry.

 

Yes she has the larvae if she needs food.
From my personal experience Camponotus just needs to be left alone to do well, especially in the beginning phase.

[T.C.]

Ok, thank you guys. My queen was part of the second nuptial flight real late in the year. Towards the midst of fall it appeared that the larvae had stopped growing. A member here suggested that she may have stopped developing them in preparation for hibernation? Would you assume this is correct? That is why I put here in without waiting for workers

[AnthonyP163]

Ok, thank you guys. My queen was part of the second nuptial flight real late in the year. Towards the midst of fall it appeared that the larvae had stopped growing. A member here suggested that she may have stopped developing them in preparation for hibernation? Would you assume this is correct? That is why I put here in without waiting for workers

My queen has 3 workers, and 13 larvae. The larvae stopped growing in September, so I put them in hibernation in the middle of October. It seems like they just hibernate whenever they feel like it.

[Miles]

I very strongly recommend giving her the opportunity to take in some carbohydrates. A  sugar-water or honey-soaked q-tip on a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper can work. She is quite skinny, and after years of raising Camponotus, I know that feeding is essentially obligated when they look like her current condition. It's not certain that she'd consume the larvae - especially depending on how low the temperatures are. She may be unable to do so.

Edited by Miles, December 6 2016 - 7:02 AM.

[OTHER]

My Camponotus herculeanus went in hibernation with 1 worker and 2 big larvae. (lost workers without any reason sadly)
I think ants with hibernation have a biological clock that makes them go in some sort of "sleep" around this period.

For example if I keep my Lasius niger on room temperature, they will hide in their tube.
They don't go out much, and they almost don't take any food. So they go in to some kind of hibernation regarding the high temperature.

When I observe this behavior, i slowly drop the temperature for them. Lowering there speed and needs for food.

Of course this is my personal experience 

[T.C.]

I very strongly recommend giving her the opportunity to take in some carbohydrates. A  sugar-water or honey-soaked q-tip on a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper can work. She is quite skinny, and after years of raising Camponotus, I know that feeding is essentially obligated when they look like her current condition. It's not certain that she'd consume the larvae - especially depending on how low the temperatures are. She may be unable to do so.

Well, would she eat anything in hibernation, or should I take her out? She has been in for a little over a month now. I tried feeding her previously to hibernation, but she wouldn't eat anything.

[AnthonyP163]

I very strongly recommend giving her the opportunity to take in some carbohydrates. A  sugar-water or honey-soaked q-tip on a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper can work. She is quite skinny, and after years of raising Camponotus, I know that feeding is essentially obligated when they look like her current condition. It's not certain that she'd consume the larvae - especially depending on how low the temperatures are. She may be unable to do so.

Well, would she eat anything in hibernation, or should I take her out? She has been in for a little over a month now. I tried feeding her previously to hibernation, but she wouldn't eat anything.

1 more month at least.

[T.C.]

Ok, thanks, to everyone who participated in this post and helped solve my problem. Truly apprceiated.