14 replies to this topic

[William. T]

When I pulled my colony out of hibernation yesterday night, the queen seem to not be moving, but her workers were fine. When I checked this morning, she still was not moving. Is she dead?

[dean_k]

Queens may not make through hibernation which is one of reasons some want exotic ants that don't require hibernation.

 

What is temp of room they are currently in? Sometimes queens require higher temp to start moving again. Try to place them somewhere hotter, close to 25c, and see how it goes. If she won't move and remain curled up, then yes she is dead.

[benjiwuf]

also take into consideration and please help answer these questions:  how long were they in hibernation? what kind of setup are they in? what species are they? how cold was their hibernation setup?

[Miles]

Some queens can remain curled up for days before they wake up.

[Mercutia]

What Miles said. Give her some time to come around. If she doesn't revive in a week, maybe then call time of death.

[Crystals]

I find in some species, especially after a longer or colder hibernation, that it can take days for the queen to wake even though the workers wake pretty quick.

 

First hibernation is always the worst. Apparently, if there is anything wrong with the genes that allow them to hibernate safely, they will not survive their first hibernation.

That being said, I hibernated over 80 colonies at 7C for 4 months and only lost one queen.

 

Species?

Temp?

Time?

Were they near the air vent in hibernation? 

Were they in a fridge?

[DesertAntz]

That sucks Pheidole. Hopefully she'll wake up soon. 

[William. T]

I checked today. She was still curled up. The workers were fine. To warm her up, I lifted my terrarium up on stilts made out of legos, and placed my test tubed colony under right next to the heat pad, which doesn't give out too heat. I fed the colony raisin for sugars. Any other foods required? Any thoughts?

[Crystals]

1. What species?

2. what was the temperature in hibernation?

3. How long were they in hibernation

4. Were they near the air vent in hibernation? 

5. Were they in a fridge or in a garage?

 

I usually feed sugar water for sugar.  None of my species would touch a raisin....

[William. T]

They were in a tackle box, which was in a garage. I caught these in the wild, and I don't know how long they have been hibernating. I will post an ID soon. They were not in an air vent. I don't think the temps were dangerous, as the workers were alive. Do they need more food? I will feed them a small test tube of sugar water.

[William. T]

Today, I checked on colony. A worker was drinking sugar water. The queen still is not moving, but her legs are not as folded in as before. Any thoughts? Is she finally starting to wake up?

[Miles]

Today, I checked on colony. A worker was drinking sugar water. The queen still is not moving, but her legs are not as folded in as before. Any thoughts? Is she finally starting to wake up?

It's possible. 

[dean_k]

All we can do is speculate at the moment.

 

Chances are low that the queen is alive though.

Edited by dean_k, February 1 2015 - 10:47 AM.

[Miles]

I'd give her more time. I know that Mikey of AntsCanada had a queen like this for over a week.

[William. T]

Update: Still no activity from her.