Don't forget to do a check up once in a while to see they are fine and if the have enough water.
I just checked on mine, the ligniperda seem ok, the queen's antennae moved a little. The herculaneus are underground so no idea. They've been outside for about a month now which I hear is pretty much minimum time for hibernation. I will probably not wake them since the hibernation seems to be going quite well.
So during hibernation ants would actually leave the nest in search of water?
Most of the time they just stay in the nest. If that is moist enough there is no problem, the rather stay inside but sometimes they come out if the nest is to dry (depends on the species, in my experience, some don't come out at all)
If everything looks fine keep them in hibernation for another 2-3 months.
Hiya people,
I also live in england and I also got a C.Ligniperda colony and I am so relieved im also not the only one who thinks i idi something wrong.
They came to me about august or so, wen they arrived some workers died and i started out with 18 or so and now with 9 or 10. They are also very inactive and only 3 days ago 1 died again. But recently like 5 days ago they did wlk around but they have no brood no larva nothing...
First wen they came they made a tunnel on the glass and into the earth still next to the glass, this was ace but the earth I Used wasnt good at all, its britle, weak and and takes long time to suck up moisture. I had to move them in to a mini Ytong were they are still now. Then I Coverd 80% of the place with bird sand (I know very stupid since its wrong sand) Now I want to remove the sand and add soil from my garden which is perfect (My Lasius nigger live in it )before the C.Liginiperda wake up fully.
Phew sorry for the loads of writing but i Havnt been bk on this website for ages.
PS: Any advise would be appreciated
ligniperda are not tempreture senisitve, that automaticly try to go into hibernation, you are causing them allot of stress by not letting them, because there bodies are trying to shut down, but the tempreture will be keeping them going and using allot of their reserves ;)
Yes I thought about that but i have a problem, The whole house is heated, i got no cella or loft... and no shed yet atleast. Anyway I thought the only place could be downstairs next to the garden door were its coldest. But i wanna change soil first since its useless like i described before, thanks tho for telling me but maybe any advise were else i can put them for hibernation, and note that im in england which means english weather lol
what about putting the mini-ytong into a refrigerator? The temperature would be right i think, but i dont know if you can separate the nest from the rest of your formicarium.
you will obviously need to check the temp of ur fridge and then adjust it so thats its the perfect temp. But a lot of people hiberante there ants in a fridge.. I know next yr il be buying myself a nice small fridge Just for my ants...
you will obviously need to check the temp of ur fridge and then adjust it so thats its the perfect temp. But a lot of people hiberante there ants in a fridge.. I know next yr il be buying myself a nice small fridge Just for my ants...
steve, i am also planning on getting a fridge in my room just for my ants lol so i can hibernate them...(also to store live food such as mealworms etc....) as this is also handy :)
u can buy mini fridges for less than 40£ these days ;) woolworths have one I believe, set it to high temp first, then drop it down till u hit about 4-5C :)