ANTSTORE World of Ants

[NewbieAndy]

Hey Everyone, im a newbie at this and was wondering if anyone could offer any advice. I jus got a new Lasius niger queen and 3 workers, there are a small number of larvae and eggs in the tube with her. unfortunatly, its getting cold here now and they are starting to hibernate for the winter.

I am worried that due to the young age of the colony and the fact there are still undeveloped eggs in there. they might not make it through the winter.

Should i skip hibernation this year by keeping the colony warm or let them sleep for the winter??????

[miszt]

no dont skip hibernation!!

as long as you reduce the tempreture slowly over the next 4-6 weeks (eg room temp 24C down to
5C in 6 weeks), they will survive, the queen will stop laying eggs, and the brood will have time to develop lasius niger are hardy ants, and hibernating them wont hurt them....however not hibernating them WILL hurt them

this question has been done to death, i'm suprised you didnt get your answer by using the search functiction

[JimmyVe]

He NewbieAndy and welcome.

I must stick with miszt on this one, he is wright you know.

(@miszt: this is also a FAQ )

[ratgreen]

same, i got a queen with about 7 larve and 3 eggs and no workers, so should i skip hibernation aswell? or should i still have hibernation but just a little late, as i am counting down until the first worker apears, which should be born by christmas or later. then start the hibernation after the first worker is born?

[mzfckr]

hibernate them ratgreen.even a small hibernation is much better than nothing.

[Purifier]

Ants need the hibernation. The life time and the egg production would be harmed. So dont skip hibernation

But please use the search function or the FAQ, that question is really a FAQ!

[ducatiman]

i was just thinking, how long does it take for the ants to slow down and stop moving when first put into hibernation because i but my messor barbarus in a room at 13c a few days ago and they are still active ??

[Purifier]

Hm. Ants go in hibernation from two big factors: From the temperature and from their inner clock.
May you should drop the temperature from 13° to 10°C

[ratgreen]

how would you gradually cool them down as its either inside my house about 20 c or 10 c in my garage? any tips on gradual hibernation

[Purifier]

What species? They have to cool down slowly. From your room (20°) maybe to another room with 15°. There they have to stay a week or else and then maybe to the cellar (10°?).
But its hard to say the right temperature without knowing the species

[SteveUK28]

a cold room lol but if you have heating on in every room like i do its hard.. I just turned the radiator off in my spare room and left them on the windowsil.. not warm but not cold.. then moved them out into my shed wrapped up warmish.. n now they are just in there bubble wrap in a draw in da shed.. Hope that helps..

[ratgreen]

wow thanks for the rapid response er sorry its for my lasius niger

[SteveUK28]

Thats what i have too.. Im sure they will be fine in the garage just give them a good wrappin of cling film.. are they still in the test tube or are they now in a farm ?

[Purifier]

Lasius niger need a temperature about 4° or 8°. Dont know how is the situation in your garage

[miszt]

some garages are very well insulated, u may not get low enough tempretures to hibernate them, but its probly a good step before u put them in a shed or ur fridge