13 replies to this topic

[rdurham02]

Good morning all!

 

I recently took my queens/colonies out of hibernation. I had all the ants stored in a plastic tote in a unheated storage space from mid-October to a week ago. My concern is most of my queens (Lasius, Crematogaster, and some Formica) have not recovered and are not moving legs or antennae. However, my Camponotus, Temnothorax colonies, and two of my Formica queens recovered within 2-3 days. Since I live in Maine, the temperature dropped close to 0 degrees F on a few occasions when I checked on my 'hibernation vault' that I had wired with a terrarium thermometer. I would appreciate any input.

Thanks!

 

 

[Ant Broski]

Good morning all!
 
I recently took my queens/colonies out of hibernation. I had all the ants stored in a plastic tote in a unheated storage space from mid-October to a week ago. My concern is most of my queens (Lasius, Crematogaster, and some Formica) have not recovered and are not moving legs or antennae. However, my Camponotus, Temnothorax colonies, and two of my Formica queens recovered within 2-3 days. Since I live in Maine, the temperature dropped close to 0 degrees F on a few occasions when I checked on my 'hibernation vault' that I had wired with a terrarium thermometer. I would appreciate any input.
Thanks!

Usually when the legs and antennae aren’t moving at all they are dead. I think either the temperatures were too cold, they were introduced to the cold too suddenly, or they heated up too quickly when you took them out. Let them out in room temperature for another week or so. If they don’t recover they are defiantly dead.

[Miles]

I recommend waiting at least a week before declaring them all deceased. Open the tubes and get some fresh air in there. Keep them at a constant temperature and in the dark. It's worth the minimal effort to give the slow pokes a chance.

[rdurham02]

Thanks for the feedback! I will probably give them another week at room temp. to see if there are any more revivals. 

[Zmagz]

I'm pretty sure when the legs are curled up like the bottom tube of the second picture, it means there dead, but idk

[T.C.]

I recommend waiting at least a week before declaring them all deceased. Open the tubes and get some fresh air in there. Keep them at a constant temperature and in the dark. It's worth the minimal effort to give the slow pokes a chance.

Have you ever observed it taking a week? Longest I have ever had it take was three days with Camponotus sp.

[noebl1]

This was an unusually cold winter here in New England, and stayed very cold for longer stretches than usual. May have frozen to death    Camponotus and Temnothorax are known to create glycerol to help survive some very cold temps.  However I'm not sure if Lasius, Crematogaster, and Formica do.  Considering Lasius and Formica typically live in soil, suspecting they don't often get exposed to such low temperatures like 0F.  I know the frost line here in MA is about 4 feet, but not sure if the queen gets a couple feet down, if it hits the same cold temps as the air does.  Crematogaster often nest in trees, so would think they may get exposed to such low temps, but assume there would be time to acclimate?

 

Part of our attic is unfinished, and due to the sun, even with the ridge and eave vents, has quite the temperature shifts through out the day/night (I have a temp/humidity sensor up there.)  Guessing as a result would be a pretty terrible place to keep ants.  Not sure the kind of unheated space you kept them in.

Edited by noebl1, January 28 2018 - 5:05 PM.

[rdurham02]

This was an unusually cold winter here in New England, and stayed very cold for longer stretches than usual. May have frozen to death    Camponotus and Temnothorax are known to create glycerol to help survive some very cold temps.  However I'm not sure if Lasius, Crematogaster, and Formica do.  Considering Lasius and Formica typically live in soil, suspecting they don't often get exposed to such low temperatures like 0F.  I know the frost line here in MA is about 4 feet, but not sure if the queen gets a couple feet down, if it hits the same cold temps as the air does.  Crematogaster often nest in trees, so would think they may get exposed to such low temps, but assume there would be time to acclimate?

 

Part of our attic is unfinished, and due to the sun, even with the ridge and eave vents, has quite the temperature shifts through out the day/night (I have a temp/humidity sensor up there.)  Guessing as a result would be a pretty terrible place to keep ants.  Not sure the kind of unheated space you kept them in.

Yeah, my going theory is that they got too cold! I had them in the storage space we have that is essentially the 2nd floor of an old drafty barn.. A learning experience I suppose.

[noebl1]

I'm kind of surprised that in the barn they didn't have enough time to acclimate (well I guess the Camponotus and Temnothorax sounds like they did.)  Do you have an unheated basement in the house for next season?  Luckily I think there's a pretty active group of ant keepers in Maine, just not sure how far apart you guys are as not a quick state to get around in.

[KBant]

for next year buy a cheap fridge or wine cooler. a week or so before going into the fridge, take them off the heat so its not a big shock to them.

[noebl1]

for next year buy a cheap fridge or wine cooler. a week or so before going into the fridge, take them off the heat so its not a big shock to them.

 

Craigslist and Amazon Warehouse Deals are your friends here...  Especially for those on a tight budget.

[Diesel]

tip for a method i used for hibernating this year. worked out amazing. in my basement window i placed my test tubes up against the glass of the window and then sealed them with the plastic window stuff that prevents drafts. my basement is a constant 55-60 degrees and outside fluctuated but it was always 20-40 in between the pane and the plastic. this kept them from freezing most days and not too warm to be active. no sun gets to that window.

[T.C.]

tip for a method i used for hibernating this year. worked out amazing. in my basement window i placed my test tubes up against the glass of the window and then sealed them with the plastic window stuff that prevents drafts. my basement is a constant 55-60 degrees and outside fluctuated but it was always 20-40 in between the pane and the plastic. this kept them from freezing most days and not too warm to be active. no sun gets to that window.

I did that too actually. But yeah, your gonna want to make sure that sunlight doesn't get to that spot. The window I put mine next to is under part of our deck making it almost completely dark.

[rdurham02]

for next year buy a cheap fridge or wine cooler. a week or so before going into the fridge, take them off the heat so its not a big shock to them.

 

I'm kind of surprised that in the barn they didn't have enough time to acclimate (well I guess the Camponotus and Temnothorax sounds like they did.)  Do you have an unheated basement in the house for next season?  Luckily I think there's a pretty active group of ant keepers in Maine, just not sure how far apart you guys are as not a quick state to get around in.

 

 

for next year buy a cheap fridge or wine cooler. a week or so before going into the fridge, take them off the heat so its not a big shock to them.

 

 

 

for next year buy a cheap fridge or wine cooler. a week or so before going into the fridge, take them off the heat so its not a big shock to them.

 

Craigslist and Amazon Warehouse Deals are your friends here...  Especially for those on a tight budget.

 

 

I am considering a mini-fridge investment via Craigslist as a worthwhile investment for this next season. Losing 98% of my queens is unacceptably depressing so I must make some changes for sure..

Edited by rdurham02, January 29 2018 - 4:45 PM.