2124 replies to this topic

[Aquaexploder]

Hi guys I'm back for the season, so I see that some people are taking their ants out of hibernation. However I never really put my ants into hibernation because unfortunately I did not have a place to so. So I keep them in my room which is a solid 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and have not fed them for the hibernation period. They all seem to be in good shape though. My question is what do I do now? Should I leave them for extra time in "hibernation" or should I take them out?

[noebl1]

How does that saying going from the novel, "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."  No joke, spent the last couple days getting ready to pull that Myrmica queen out of hibernation, just finished her setup this am.  Pulled the test tube (checked on them 3 days ago I think), and she curled up and twitching in the tube.  Oh well, I pulled her anyways at the chance, but guessing she's a goner.  Oh well, at least I'll be ready for Spring

[Connectimyrmex]

That stinks

My 1st Myrmica queen did that after drinking pesticide-laced juice (only feed organic!)

[noebl1]

It's ok, though the worst part is I'm antsy now for the Spring to try to catch a Myrmica queen out foraging, hehe.   The killer part is 2 years ago I hit it right, and could have had a dozen Myrmica alates, but wasn't ready for them yet, so let them all go/didn't grab them.   Last year I made some mistakes with my Myrmica and Camponotus, so this season think I am a bit better prepared.  No juice here, only Sunburst nectar.  My guess is she probably didn't have enough stored reserves for hibernation, or something else was wrong.  Obviously will never know.

 

It does make me tempted to temporarily pull my Aphaenogaster out, feed them, and then put them back into hibernation.  I understand they don't have much in the way of a social stomach, but not sure what they have for reserves hibernation wise.  They are fairly motionless when I check on them, though eventually do move a bit if disturbed by light.

 

Also considering pulling my P. imparis out of the basement (low 50s), and start warming them back up after being down there for 2 months.  I'm really hoping she relays, but understand realistically it may not happen.

 

I ordered a handful of the Boxbox 8-1/4" x 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" containers that I am going to convert to small test tube outworlds.  I made one already for the Myrmica with one of the pencil boxes.  They are cheaper, however the hinged top is kind of a pain to open/close compared to a simple top that just comes off.  Here's the one I had done for the Myrmica:

 

I sprinkled in a bit of natural reptile sand and coconut fiber.  The test tubes have small openings with cut down straws, then sealed around that with cotton.  The straw opening ends up sitting flush with the hydrostone at the test tube entrance which worked out nicely.

 

 

[noebl1]

Took my P. imparis out of soft hibernation this week (basically the 50F basement for 2 months), and put them in that setup I posted in above.  They are an interesting ant to watch, as they don't forage often (or at least I notice), but while I was home working yesterday, through out the day I'd see one randomly exploring their setup, and even found their way inside that second test tube.  I also noticed what looked like something being carried around from ant to ant the other day, but couldn't figure out what it was.  Finally realized looks like they may have killed off one of their workers for protein, as all that was left was a head.  I don't see any signs of eggs or larvae... however yesterday added in a fungus gnat, and it's gone.  So I guess they are taking protein so should pick up some fruit flies.

[Connectimyrmex]

Glad that yours are doing well. My local imparis colony has been active a lot lately, and I think I found a cast-out male under a rock (dead, but not aged).

 

My Myrmica queen ate a larva for no apparent reason. After that, she helped the next larva molt into its pupal stage. Overall, there is one pupa, one large larva, and a HUGE cluster of eggs and small larvae. For some reason, her worker isn't really darkening very much, even though its been out for a while (in its foraging stage).

[noebl1]

I settled on March 1st like last year to take some of the new queens out of hibernation, and then slow start taking out my existing colonies over the month of March so it's not too overwhelming.  So far, no recent deaths I have seen, though haven't examined every Lasius queen as some are buried in some of the containers so not worth disturbing.  Still bumming about my Myrmica, but it'll be ok.  I'll probably have a bunch of queens/starter 1yr/2yr colonies to sell/give away this season.

 

I broke down and took out my Aphaenogaster picea a week ago, kept them at 50F for a week, then brought them into my office.  I really should have waited a couple more weeks, but got paranoid with it being a young Aphaenogaster colonies and concerned about their winter reserves.  However guessing with how well they are doing, probably an unfounded fear.  I may do a journal on them as find them pretty interesting.  I have them in a Boxbox container (The Container Store has them again!), so did a hydrostone bottom with some sand and coconut fibers.  I added part of a drinking straw to the opening under the cotton which is my new favorite thing for starter colonies so they stay in their test tubes, but feel less exposed.  I am now sort of thinking the AC Test Tube Portals for really small ants (Lasius, Tetramorium, P. imparis, etc) may not be the most ideal, as the open ended test tube leaves them quite exposed, and there's not a good way to use the cotton ball/straw technique with portals (though may be able to force it.)

 

Think I am much more prepared with plans for my existing colonies and founding colonies this season than I was last year.

 

 

 

[noebl1]

My P. imparis from last year *may* have laid a second time. I was doing some test tube maintenance, and when I lifted their tube out off the white hydrostone, I could see a small cluster of white at the base of the cotton ball.  It could possibly be some of the white sand in the container, so we'll see if it grows   It's hard to get a good image as the test tube isn't the cleanest after a year of them in it, and the angle is hard to get a good picture.

Edited by noebl1, February 16 2018 - 4:37 AM.

[Connectimyrmex]

My ants are doing remarkably well. The w/c chromaiodes colony laid a HUGE batch of eggs in a DAY! They are pretty awesome hunters, and I've been feeding them termites and roaches.

 

The Myrmica queen is also doing great! Her second pupa is darkening, so there will be two nanitics soon (the old one + the pupa). There also is a huge cluster of larvae and eggs. 

[noebl1]

Looks like a 60 and 70 degree day this week, so possible for P. imparis flights.  I suspect it's too early here in MA, but I could be wrong.  Anyone seen any active signs of them foraging?  Last year @Nathant2131 did a pretty good tracking them due to a couple of his local colonies.  Unfortunately none by me, and not going to be at work this week where I found them last year.

[Connectimyrmex]

I saw a worker dragging a dead scorpionfly today, but might have just been a freak appearance.

[noebl1]

Any signs of P. imparis flights?  Up where I am it's still pretty wet from slushy in areas due to all the melting snow (still a few snowy/icy patches.)  I saw a tweet from the NWS that reminded me that it was in the 70s F  last year at almost this same exact time (2/24/17), however they didn't fly last year.  Curious to see what happens today.

[Nathant2131]

Any signs of P. imparis flights?  Up where I am it's still pretty wet from slushy in areas due to all the melting snow (still a few snowy/icy patches.)  I saw a tweet from the NWS that reminded me that it was in the 70s F  last year at almost this same exact time (2/24/17), however they didn't fly last year.  Curious to see what happens today.

I've been stuck in Northern NH for the past few days (and the area I'm at seems like an unsuitable habitat for them) so I'm gonna miss the warm days. I haven't seen any ants back home or here but that may be because I haven't had an eye out for them. I don't think I realize how close to flight season we are, haha.

[Connectimyrmex]

Its so warm where I live (78 degrees), but it is way too windy for Prenolepis flights. I did see a few confused bumble and paper wasp queens, so keep an eye out for them. 

[noebl1]

Its so warm where I live (78 degrees), but it is way too windy for Prenolepis flights. I did see a few confused bumble and paper wasp queens, so keep an eye out for them. 

 

Thanks, that was my assessment here as well; very windy and very wet ground still.

[Connectimyrmex]

yep!


I did see a few confused Formica workers going nuts and attacking Prenolepis workers yesterday.

[noebl1]

I should have known better, spent a few minutes in the snow-melt soaked grass yesterday.  When I say I few minutes, I mean literally 1-2 minutes, and found two deer ticks in me this am.  Tis the season   So just a friendly reminder again to be careful when out anting!

[Connectimyrmex]

Thanks! 
There was a giant black bear in my yard yesterday, probably woken up by the weird 78 degree weather.

[noebl1]

Did a quick inventory and pulled a handful more queens out of hibernation as going on 4 months for pretty much all of them now.   Looks like 5 Crematogaster made it thru hibernation, couple died with wings still on them.  My Brachymyrmex depilis queen also seems to have made it.  Lastly both Aphaenogaster rudis made it, and surprisingly the one queen I suspected was infertile, dropped her wings after I took her out of hibernation this week.  Curious to see if she lays or not.  The other queen still tending her larvae that went thru hibernation with her; noticed she's moved them now that she's warmed up.

 

Hard to believe any time now over the next 4-6 weeks P. imparis could start flying.  With the temps in the 40s-50s over the next week or so, I bet P. imparis will be out foraging.  Also read somewhere some of the Aphaenogaster sp. wills start foraging as well in the 50s which surprised me, so may see some of them too.  Spring is almost here

Edited by noebl1, February 23 2018 - 5:26 PM.

[Connectimyrmex]

My Myrmica queen just got her first worker, and I'm very happy that she's doing well.