8 replies to this topic

[Jadeninja9]

Earlier today, I took my Camponotus hyatti colony of 30 workers that I bought from a GAN Farmer in Sacramento, out of hibernation. They've been in a wine cooler set to 45 degrees since November 11. A few minutes after taking them out and putting them in my room which was about 74 degrees, they looked as if they came back to life. Then about an hour later, I saw a major and minor lying on their side, seemingly lifeless. I thought maybe they were too warm so I put the colony in my garage which had cooler temps and almost immediately the major and minor got back up. I left them in my garage for 1-2 hours, then moved them to my dining room where it was room temperature. When I checked around 6 PM, I saw that the queen was now lying on her side, with only little antennae movement. I let them be for about 3 hours and at 9 PM I checked on them and the queen was still lying on her side with little antennae movement. I put them back in the wine cooler thinking I might have taken them out of hibernation too early, and checked up on them 30 minutes later and saw that queen had more movement. Any thoughts? Did I take them out too early?

[Serafine]

They probably prefer a gradual temperature rise. Also don't forget that Camponotus are really big ants and it takes them quite a while to wake up - some queens and majors may need up to two weeks to fully wake up. Northern Camponotus queens not moving for several days after taken out of hibernation is nothing uncommon.

[Jadeninja9]

They probably prefer a gradual temperature rise. Also don't forget that Camponotus are really big ants and it takes them quite a while to wake up - some queens and majors may need up to two weeks to fully wake up. Northern Camponotus queens not moving for several days after taken out of hibernation is nothing uncommon.

Okay, thanks a lot. Does this also go for the small Myrmentoma Camponotus species?

[YsTheAnt]

Yes, just not as long as the larger ones.

[Jadeninja9]

Alright I guess I'll just leave em out then

[CamponotusLover]

As the others said, it does indeed take longer for Camponotus Species to wake up, sometimes even weeks, the moving back and forth of temperatures isn't reccomended btw. You are also likely to see the workers up and active before the queen but it really depends. 

[Jadeninja9]

As the others said, it does indeed take longer for Camponotus Species to wake up, sometimes even weeks, the moving back and forth of temperatures isn't reccomended btw. You are also likely to see the workers up and active before the queen but it really depends. 

Thanks for the input. It was confusing to see the queen be active then go back to a hibernation state.

[CamponotusLover]

 

As the others said, it does indeed take longer for Camponotus Species to wake up, sometimes even weeks, the moving back and forth of temperatures isn't reccomended btw. You are also likely to see the workers up and active before the queen but it really depends. 

Thanks for the input. It was confusing to see the queen be active then go back to a hibernation state.

 

My pleasure, you might also see some inactivity or, (not sure if this is the right term but,) "diapause", here and there until Summer starts. But I don't know if it is the same for you since you live in Cali. 

[Jadeninja9]

My pleasure, you might also see some inactivity or, (not sure if this is the right term but,) "diapause", here and there until Summer starts. But I don't know if it is the same for you since you live in Cali. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the advice. This is my first time putting a colony in hibernation so its a new experience for me.