ANTSTORE World of Ants

[DAVEY_E_185]

Hi Just have a little hibernation query, what risks or dangers are there if i take my Lasius niger colony out of hibernation early say in January rather than March. This would be the only year i would be doing it.

[baumarkthammer]

A part of the larva could die. It is not a thing of live and dead of the colony.
Some people don´t let them do the hibernation other people do a very short. How long are they in hibernation?

[Pi.Ag3]

Hi,

I think the only problem would be that the Lasius will early go in hibernation (the stop theirs activities, the larveas will not grow and the queen don't lie eggs etc...) next year, maybe in September.

Greetz, Phil

[DAVEY_E_185]

Hi,

From what i have read they are supposed to hibernate for at least 5 months of the year from Sept to March. But i was wondering if it would be ok to take them out of hibernation in January? It would be for this year only.

[JimmyVe]

The only big risk is losing to brood and make it a hard time for the queen. They have like a inner clock that puts them into hibernation and tell them when to come out. So its not healthy for your colony to do so.

[UneXisted]

As already told by JimmyVe, the hibernation is needed to 'synchronize' the internal clock. Every year Lasius niger needs a hibernation of 4 - 5 months. This is because the queen of the species Lasius niger is not able to lay eggs for the whole year. Lasius niger has a endogenous hibernation, which means they will stop laying eggs and will cease activity until they have rest 'enough'.