46 replies to this topic

[Martialis]

Since I put my ants in late, I'm gonna take them out on 04/13/17.

[Californian Anter]

Update 1/30/17: Actually I took them out today, 2 days earlier. I don't think there have been any deaths in the colony. However, the last time I pulled them out they were on their feet within 10-20 minutes, and looked stable. Today, however, 5 hours later most are still on the ground, and the ones that are up look like they're drunk and can't climb. The queen is one of those who is still on the ground, though I saw her antennae moving. The most worrying thing is that the ants that haven't gotten up yet have been twitching constantly for hours. Does anybody know what is going on? Is this natural?

[antgenius123]

What date did you start hibernation?

[Californian Anter]

What date did you start hibernation?

I started on 12/8/16. They probably hibernated on their own in the wild for a bit too.

[antgenius123]

 

What date did you start hibernation?

I started on 12/8/16. They probably hibernated on their own in the wild for a bit too.

 

Oh ok

[Californian Anter]

They haven't found the sugar water, though there was one lethargic worker in the outworld today. I fear that if this continues the colony will wind up dying.

[Serafine]

You can put the sugar water into or a least closer to the nest (like right at the doorstep).

[Californian Anter]

You can put the sugar water into or a least closer to the nest (like right at the doorstep).

That winded up drowning one of my workers. Count down to 6.

[Kevin]

If you have a needle or something small, put a tiny drop of honey or nectar right next to them. Maybe a few very small drops to prevent drowning.

[Californian Anter]

Update 2/17/17: Well, I had figured they didn't like the Omni Nest for some reason, and decided to get them a THA Mini Hearth. Imagine my surprise when I realized the queen is too fat to fit through the tube that leads to the outworld! So instead, I chilled the whole colony, then opened up the nest and grabbed the queen with featherweight forceps. I opened the glass, dropped her in, and replaced it. Part one done! Next, I discovered they had one egg. I took the egg with a q-tip and dropped it down the chute into the nest. Finally, I picked up all 6 workers and put them into the outworld. One went in immediately, while the others just chilled in the outworld, since they didn't know they had a new nest. I had to prod them with an unbent paper clip to get them all to go in. Currently, all of them look quite comfortable in the new nest.

[Californian Anter]

Update 3/4/17: They are now down to 4, but after eating some spiders the queen laid about 7 eggs. However, they aren't really in a pile; there's 3 clustered together and 4 scattered around. The last 4 workers aren't injured and constantly moving, so I hope they can make a comeback. The queen doesn't look as weak either.

[Kevin]

You can add some loose sand into their Mini Hearth to let them settle in it, Camponotus like to have a nice surface.

[nurbs]

I have extensive experience with this species and collect them every year up in the mountains near my home. I have never put mine in the fridge for hibernation, just outside in the cold and they do fine. I think the fact you kept putting them in the fridge and taking them out may have killed or stressed some of the workers. All my C. vicinus have been out of hibernation since late January. I would leave them out of the fridge now and let them do their thing. Don't force them to move or eat. They'll come around.

[Californian Anter]

I have extensive experience with this species and collect them every year up in the mountains near my home. I have never put mine in the fridge for hibernation, just outside in the cold and they do fine. I think the fact you kept putting them in the fridge and taking them out may have killed or stressed some of the workers. All my C. vicinus have been out of hibernation since late January. I would leave them out of the fridge now and let them do their thing. Don't force them to move or eat. They'll come around.

Thanks Nurbs. Taking them out and putting them back probably somehow stressed or injured them, because the second time I took them out their legs and antennae looked twisted, and they all looked weak.

 

Anyway, another worker somehow drowned on a cotton ball in a cap full of sugar water. Idk how that happened. Count down to 3. The queen at half of an earwig, and made a pile of eggs.

[Antsinmycloset]

I've heard about nanitics being relatively short lived compared to true minors. Do you think that's what's going on?

Also, I have to ask, are you seeing this species in the same places as you would other large Camponotus? I found a large colony of Camponotus vicinus last fall and I'm really hoping to find a queen or fledgling colony this year. They're definitely easy on the eyes.

[Californian Anter]

I've heard about nanitics being relatively short lived compared to true minors. Do you think that's what's going on?

Also, I have to ask, are you seeing this species in the same places as you would other large Camponotus? I found a large colony of Camponotus vicinus last fall and I'm really hoping to find a queen or fledgling colony this year. They're definitely easy on the eyes.

I'm pretty sure nanitics are rather short lived, and live for a few months. But since this is my first colony ever, I feel most deaths are due to my lack of experience. About seeing Camponotus, this is the only colony I have confirmed so far. I may have found another one, but not in the same place. The possible Camponotus Vicinus colony I found lives in between two massive slabs of sun-heated concrete, are black colored, and are about 4-6 mm long.

[Californian Anter]

Apparently the worker didn't die. I was checking on them and I saw her twitching in the ant graveyard. Lo and behold, she actually got up and started to clean herself off. I put her back with her family. Now, she is probably haring her story and the sugar water  .

[Californian Anter]

Update (3/29/17): Short update. A few days ago, the queen systematically murdered almost all her brood   . I fear if something doesn't turn around they are going to die. Also, a worker somehow bypassed the fluon.

[Californian Anter]

Update (4/8/17): Well, this colony is most likely doomed. 3 workers died of old age, leaving just one behind who will probably follow them soon. At least the queen is alive, so later on in the colony's lifespan I was doing something right.

[Kevin]

Generally the queen is the toughest ant in the colony lifespan wise. Put the queen and worker in a test tube with sand or wood.