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Hi,
I have a colony of Lasius niger which is getting along nicely and has been put away for the winter to hibernate. I keep my ants in my room and love watching them so have missed them quite alot! Just wanted to know are there any european species that do not hibernate? Tried to research this myself but to no avail!
Hello Gulaas and welcome.
As far as i know there are no European ants that don't need hibernation. But South European ants don't need such a long hibernation period as Central European ants. (Central European 4-6 months, South European 2-4 months)
This is why most of us keep an exotic spec so we can still see plenty of ant activity.. this winter ive been watching my Camponotus substitutus grow, they are growing faster and faster now :D
With regards to keeping an exotic species (I dont play to just yet I want to see how well I cope with Lasius niger!) what would be a good starting species?
Well you cant go wrong with something like the Camponotus substitutus i have.. i would def say a Camponotus tho.. maybe a Pheidole.. but they are difficuly to get ya hands on.. Id def go for a Camponotus... but first if i was u id start with a south european ant.. like a Messor spec.. or Campontus vagus.
I doubt that Central European ants really NEED 4-6 months of hibernation. Sometimes they have to sleep so long because in their natural habitat the temperature is too low for activity, but it doesn't mean they will not be happy with shorter winter time. Anyway the same Lasius niger can be found in Moscow and Paris, and sometimes even in some highland areas in North Africa, where the winter time is totally different, and so their hibernation time varies. They need only some minimum time to turn on their season cycle program, as the queens usually stop or slow laying eggs in autumn and need hibernation to reactivate. I usually give my ants 2 months, plus a few weeks of cooler temperature (ca.15C) before.
I observed my Myrmica (probably rubra ) colony, unlike all other species, doesn't slow colony development in winter at all. However, I still put them into the fridge to simulate season cycle in natural habitat.
my Myrmica rubra are the same tail.. still fairly active.. im sure its only cos im not feeding them as much that they are not producing any new young.
Thanks for the advice guys I will be investing in some Myrmica rubra for my next colony!
That is why i said, Central European ants, i know that there are species that live in Europe and in Africa and that they don't need the same hibernation period. This is why i always say, give the ants the same conditions as they would have in nature, or at least try to.
That is why i said, Central European ants, i know that there are species that live in Europe and in Africa and that they don't need the same hibernation period. This is why i always say, give the ants the same conditions as they would have in nature, or at least try to.
That's why to know the origin of the queen, could be very important more than the origin of the species, in colony manipulation.
My Camponotus substitutus have been very alive all winter long. For those that live in south Europe the exotic species can be more easy than those from central or north Europe.