Daggy: Hibernation (27. Sep 2013 09:52)

Is it ok to put the queen and the workers into hibernation when the queen has laid eggs/Larvae or should I wait until they have developed into adult ants.

baumarkthammer: Re: Hibernation (27. Sep 2013 15:25)

In most ant species only the larvae hibernate. So wait until all the brood is in that stadium. Most European species stop hatching and laying eggs when the time is about right for hibernation.
One exaption is the genus Formica, they hibernate completley without brood and start laying eggs in spring again. Also Pheidole pallidula and a few South European species sometimes don't stop laying eggs and require a lowered temperature to get ready for hibernation. So it really depends on which species you keep.

Daggy: Re: Hibernation (30. Sep 2013 12:58)

Thanks for the Reply baumarkthammer the species is Campontous ligniperdus

baumarkthammer: Re: Hibernation (30. Sep 2013 14:31)

Camponotus ligniperdus will stop laying eggs when the time is right and stop all activity. That species is very strict when it comes to hibernation and will tell you when the time is right.^^

Daggy: Re: Hibernation (30. Sep 2013 15:45)

Thanks for all your advice

Daggy: Re: Hibernation (8. Okt 2013 10:00)

Baumarkthammer can you help me re a hibernation question again. I have the nest in my home at the moment and was going to put them in a little fridge but lowest temp that the fridge goes to is around 10c/12c do you think this temp is lower enough for the above species