delete-14751: A few Lasius niger queens (11. Aug 2008 09:16)

I got four queens (L.niger) 16 days ago, and 14 days ago they laid eggs!
The eggs have not changed yet is this ok?? ive looked around and got a few different time frames for the change into larve. Plus (the main Q) what size in numbers will the colony reach by Hibernation? (can someone confirm the time of Hibernation).

Thanks

tail__: (11. Aug 2008 11:19)

Yes, that is ok, you probably will have first little larvae this week. The speed of development depends on temperature, it's much faster in 30C than in 20C. The hibernation time is not fixed, you can begin it as well in September as in January. I think you won't have much more than 50 workers then. Just make sure the ants will have a few weeks of reduced temperature (<20C) before real hibernation. Gradual reduction of temperature would be ideal, though it is not always possible.

delete-14751: (11. Aug 2008 14:52)

Cheers for your help

JimmyVe: (11. Aug 2008 20:12)

Best time for hibernation is from October till march +-5 months.

delete-14751: (12. Aug 2008 08:48)

Is there a main food i should give them before they go into hibernation?

JimmyVe: (12. Aug 2008 18:39)

Not really, just keep feeding them the same food you always give them.

Skippy: (12. Aug 2008 18:47)

yeah , that is right what Jimmy wrote , and also , they do not want much feed before hibernation , only sugar water and etc , no proteins :)

delete-14751: (13. Aug 2008 08:39)

So do they store their food?? Or use their body fat they build up over ther summer?

tail__: (13. Aug 2008 09:27)

Jest, they gather some fat in autumn, that's why a few weeks of reduced temperature is needed, this way they feel winter is coming and prepare better. Under 20C the queen stops laying eggs, and larvae don't pupate, but existing pupae still hatch, so there should be only adult ants and larvae when the winter comes. They are almost totally inactive in winter, so they use very little energy and can survive many months.