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Sphecomyrmex: ants active in cold place (6. Jan 2009 09:49)

Hi,

Since november, i've put a ponera coarctata queen and a myrmica rubra colony in the fridge, at 5°C, for the hibernation. But i see that they are still active, to the opposite on other ants like camponotus and lasius, that i've put in the same place and that are inactive...
Is it normal? Must i put myrmica and ponera in a colder place, or must i put lasius and camponotus in a hotter place?

Thanks

JimmyVe: Re: ants active in cold place (6. Jan 2009 09:54)

I must say my Myrmica rubra are also much more active than my Lasius sp. so it is normal if there is a difference between them.
This one is difficult, if the Camponotus sp. and Lasius sp. are from Italy (where you live) they can be held at 10-15°c to hibernate.
It also depends on the size of the colony. In the bigger colonies i have there are always a few ants active (not much, just a few).

Sphecomyrmex: Re: ants active in cold place (6. Jan 2009 10:41)

Thanks,

I've collected all my Lasius in Germany.
Other ants are all from italy, but i don't know a way to have a place with a temperature 10-15 °C where i can hibernate them...The out temperature is too cold. Any advise?

amrik singh: Re: ants active in cold place (6. Jan 2009 11:58)

I have experience with Myrmica rubra : 5 to 8 °C is perfect but be very carefull :You must keep the nest as moist as during the active season. Myrmica rubra like high humidity and keep dorment small and medium larvae during hibernation.

Sphecomyrmex: Re: ants active in cold place (6. Jan 2009 12:24)

The colony is small (i've collected 20-30 workers + a queen from a big nest in a wood under a stone; a bit before the hibernation, the queen layed some eggs), and i still keep it into a test-tube, then the moist is the same. However, i keep my other nests as moist as during the active season :)

tail__: Re: ants active in cold place (6. Jan 2009 16:34)

Myrmica are much more cold tolerant than Lasius and most other ants. E.g. they reproduce well in temperature below 20C, which usually stops development of other ant colonies. That's why Myrmica colonies are especially strong in moist, shady places, where other species can't compete well. I think it is also true for Ponera , though i've never seen them in natural habitat. So it's not surprising the cold doesn't put them into sleep. But I don't think you need to put them in colder place, current one should be sufficient to show them it is winter, so the colony life cycle will be natural.