62 replies to this topic

[Crystals]

Do not try to shine any lights on them I'm pretty sure they can see it. Also try feeding them a crushed mealworm for their larva that's what I did.

 

Also it does not look at all like they need hibernation, it looks like you gave them an energy pill. 

Of course these ants can see lights.  I shine lights on mine occasionally as well - what is the point of having ants if you can't look at them?

Formica do not like dried insects.  A fresh cut-up mealworm on the other hand is generally well accepted.

 

Formica are a more active species.  His were caught where they would naturally hibernate, so for the health of the colony and queen, it is wise to hibernate them.

[AntsAreUs]

Sorry, I'm used to seeing mine, they're hibernating right now.

[Gregory2455]

Yeah, they looked pretty active in that video. There is no problem with shining a light on them for a few seconds, and there is no use to give them a larger protein source then this- they have no brood!

[AntsAreUs]

How are they doing?

[Gregory2455]

Update: 11/8/2014

I got tired of this queen's inactivity. She has not laid an egg for over a month. It is obvious they wanted to hibernate, so I gave it to them. These guys started hibernation yesterday, 11/7/2014. They will be in hibernation for about two and a half months.

[Gregory2455]

Update: 1/19/2014

I took the colony with four workers and a queen, and the lone queen out of hibernation.

[Gregory2455]

[ToeNhi]

I checked on both of my Formica fusca queens today, and they both have a small cluster of eggs. I guess they are done hibernating.

[Gregory2455]

I checked on both of my Formica fusca queens today, and they both have a small cluster of eggs. I guess they are done hibernating.

Congratulations! I actually got these from around the bay area. (says in first post I think.)

[Gregory2455]

Update: 1/31/2015

Colony was moved into foraging container.

[James C. Trager]

All Formica species do best with at least 6 weeks cold "hibernation" per year.

In nature, they go even longer, even in the mildest climates they inhabit (such as coastal California).

[dspdrew]

Does this mean I should hibernate my Formica moki colony?

[Gregory2455]

They hibernated for about 8 weeks I think.

[James C. Trager]

Yes, it seems even the mildest climate ones like F. perpilosa, F. moki, F. archboldi, F. pallidefulva (from southern Florida) stop brood production for a while during the winter months.

Edited by James C. Trager, February 2 2015 - 1:19 PM.

[dspdrew]

Mine certainly has stopped producing. I think I'm going to hibernate her for six weeks and see what happens.

[Gregory2455]

Mine still has not produced anything since I have taken her out, even though she hibernated for 8 weeks or so... Oh well soon she should start.

[Gregory2455]

Update: 3/5/2015

Finally, after over a month of being out of hibernation, I see eggs!

[dean_k]

You know, my first impression of those pictures was it was a shot from the movie, Alien.

[Gregory2455]

Update: 3/17/2015

Well the egg pile of the colony is growing. 

 

And I am doubtful anyone remembers except for those closely following this journal, but if you remember I had four queens to start, three of which made colonies, one dying from mites, and the other dying from the summer heat wave here in California, and one being the colony this journal follows. Where is the last one? Well after not laying a single egg last year, I thought she was infertile, but to such an extent that I was hypothesizing she may have been internally defected, as she did not even lay a single trophic egg. Well here is why I feed even my infertile queens. After not laying a single egg in her seven or so months of captivity, I continued feeding her, and hibernated her the same as the colony. Today, she has three little healthy looking eggs!

[dspdrew]

Nice! I have heard stories like this from other people with what seemed like duds.