sithmaster676: hibernation period nearly over (20. Mär 2007 08:51)

hi all
i was wondering if anyone could tell me when hibernation period ends in england currently i have a lasius niger colony that is in my garden shed they did not leave the test tube last year but i checked and all have survived the winter hibernation but as the weather here has now changed to colder climate i was wondering if anyone could please give me some advice on when the will be ready to leave the test tube and start foraging as normal
thanks
Sithmaster676

JimmyVe: (20. Mär 2007 13:08)

about now would be perfect. ;)
Depends off the weather but here its about 10-15 °c and my colony ( Lasius niger ) is out of hibernation. (My colony Lasius flavus is still in hibernation) It won't harm them if they stay in hibernation for a few weeks. If they are outside they wake up when the time is right.
Didn't you see any other ants out of hibernation in your garden (or somewhere else) ?

SimGee: (20. Mär 2007 15:59)

hibernation time for Lasius niger is from about october till about (end of) march.

So they should and could start now.

I saw ants out of hibernation in the dining room of a youth hostel right on last saturday ;)

Greetings
Simon

sithmaster676: (22. Mär 2007 21:29)

hi thanks for the replies
my ants did come out of hibernation for around a week and were active within the test tube but due to bad weather lately i think they went back into hibernation so i am hoping they come out soon as i suppose they need food, but will come out to get it if they get really hungry i guess.
how long can they last in hibernation ??
Sithmaster676

JimmyVe: (23. Mär 2007 17:26)

I'm not sure about that, but Lasius niger normally keeps a hibernation of 6 moths. So i guess there is no problem if they stay in it for a few days more. ;)

sithmaster676: (24. Mär 2007 19:56)

well my lasius niger colony has been in hibernation since the end of November which means they have been hibernating for around 5 months coming up to 6 so they should be ok but i have only seen glimpses of workers outside so maybe the time is still not right
sithmaster676

JimmyVe: (25. Mär 2007 12:08)

They probably are waking up easily. ;)

willi461: (25. Mär 2007 15:21)

That's the reason i dont like lasius niger.They hibernate half the year lol...

sithmaster676: (25. Mär 2007 17:16)

yeah they do hibernate a long time but when out of hibernation they are very active and increase the size of the colony very quick
sithmaster676

sithmaster676: (25. Mär 2007 19:43)

one quick question does it matter if there is condensation inside the test tube in which my ants are in and what can i do about it
Sithmaster676