ANTSTORE World of Ants

[ducatiman]

I have had my Messor barbarus in hibernation since mid october/begining of november.I kept them in my basement which is 12c (10c to 15c is optimun temp for hibernation ,or so i have read) and upon checking them today i found that they were moving around,not fast but they were moving,to me this indicates they are not in full hibernation, even though they were kept within hibernation temps,so as of today i am waking them up(thats if they were ever asleep lol),i dont think this will be a problem .Has anyone else checked their m barbarus and found them slighty active even though they were kept at the right hibernation temp

[Phasmid]

Messor barbarus don't acutualy sleep during hibernation. Hibernation for these ants is simply to slow dow the brood growth and give the queen and workers time to rest. During this time, they will eat ant-bread from seeds that they have been sving just for this. In spring, the brood will start growing as normal and the ants will continue to forage.

[ducatiman]

that would explain why they moved around abit,i have moved them to a warmer room to wake them up,they have had nearly 3 months so they should be ok ,thanks phasmid for that info,all i have read previously is that they slow down and stop ,only antenna move

[thomie]

I'm going to order Messor barbarus again with workers (pay triple but much more chance of survive!).
I'm going to an electronic store to let my thermostat checked, hope it wont happen again.

[Phasmid]

i have read previously is that they slow down and stop ,only antenna move

This would be correct for most hibernating ants such as Lasius niger, but ants like these need to be hibernating near to 5c, far cooler than Messor barbarus.

[thomie]

Because my messor barbarus queen died i can take very good pictures of her.
I made a few pictures but it'll take ages to upload them (and auto re size)
Here is one picture of the queen:

I hope you can see the queen good (because of the re size)

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[JimmyVe]

i have read previously is that they slow down and stop ,only antenna move

This would be correct for most hibernating ants such as Lasius niger, but ants like these need to be hibernating near to 5c, far cooler than Messor barbarus.

In deed, the slow down and stop is more likely with central European ants. South European ants are more active during hibernation.

@Thomie: nice picture.

[thomie]

I've just received a new Messor Barbarus queen. It got about 3 workers (didn't count them good )
Thear is no brood inside but i've heard that it's normal for Messor Barbarus to eat thear brood when they're stressed.
I'm going to the electronic shop today. I think i'm going to buy a capacitance that will make my heater less powerful. I going to try to max the temperature at ±30oC .

[JimmyVe]

That would be fine, but i think you need to heat it up slowly, they probably are not long awake from hibernation and with the traveling and all. She will be laying eggs soon if you heat them up.

[ducatiman]

and when she does start you will find that in the space of 2 or 3 weeks there will be a healthy pile of eggs

=> edit Mod
Post from 7:47pm

does anyone know how many workers you will have after 1 year,it must be a lot ?

[thomie]

I've just went to a electronic shop for my thermostat. I'm going to test it a week and if it works i'll heat the nest.

[JimmyVe]

After 1 year, my Messor barbarus had about 100 workers the first year, but much of that depends on temperature and food.

[ratgreen]

yer my pile of 6 eggs havent changed into larve yet is this normal? its been almost 4 weeks

[JimmyVe]

@ ratgreen: we are talking about Messor barbarus wright ? And she is awake out of hibernation ? Than 4 weeks is much to long. What temperature you keep them on ?

[ratgreen]

yer its Messor barbarus, out of hibernation and its about 22c were i keep her