8 replies to this topic

[MegaMyrmex]

I have a startijg tetramprium sp E colony. I was going to hibernate them soon but right now the queen is phystrogastric and she won't stop laying eggs. How do I hibernate them now? Obviously I don't want the new brood and eggs to die but I also don't want to skip their hibernation.

[Penguin]

I think you should watch the development of the eggs, if the queen stops laying and the eggs stop growing when they hit the larvae stage (all the pupae gone too) then they may be ready for hibernation.

[FeedTheAnts]

Wow, interesting predicament you've got there , I second what Penguin said.

Edited by TennesseeAnts, October 29 2017 - 1:46 PM.

[MegaMyrmex]

Just checked on them to find their section of the test tube riddled with eggs. Guess I'll try lowering the temperature a bit and see what happens. Hopefully they'll get the message and stop popping out eggs, but the queen's gaster is beginning to expand.

[Works4TheGood]

I would try to gradually put them into hibernation now. If she eats the brood, then that's ok because she'll have more energy during hibernation and in the spring. So, I wouldn't worry; just let nature be nature. My 2 cents.

[Connectimyrmex]

The "eggs" might be 1st instar larvae or a whole bunch of trophic eggs. Your queen might also not want to hibernate.

[MegaMyrmex]

All of these sound reasonable, but if she doesn't want to hibernate, what should I do? I'm thinking about exposing them to some cold to get them in the idea that it's time to bunker down.

Edited by MegaMyrmex, October 31 2017 - 11:17 AM.

[dermy]

I think you should just wait, yes it's time outside to hibernate for wild ant colonies, but captive ones can be placed in hibernation at a later point then outdoor ants without any real consequences assuming it isn't too long of a period. Some of us even reverse hibernate ant colonies [although I don't recommend doing that, since I think you need to be in a certain region for it to work]

[MegaMyrmex]

I think you have a point there, Dermy. I really want to try reverse hibernation though...if she doesn't stop popping out eggs I'll reverse hibernate then and try to catch me some new queens and enjoy the process again. Also gives me some antkeeping stuff to do during winter!
I think you have a point there, Dermy. I really want to try reverse hibernation though...if she doesn't stop popping out eggs I'll reverse hibernate then and try to catch me some new queens and enjoy the process again. Also gives me some antkeeping stuff to do during winter!