ANTSTORE World of Ants

[akell]

I found one of my Messor barbarus queens pathetically crawling across her basin last night. I put her on some wet cotton for ten minutes, then added a drop of nectar and left her for ten minutes more. I gently put her back at the nest entrance. It is a plastic test tube with water reservoir and bunged cotton, like the ones they are delivered in, but with two holes drilled in the side of the tube so the ants can dig chambers off from a moist place. Thought it made sense. Well this afternoon there she was, laying in the clay about 6 inches from the nest, minimal movement. I did the moist cotton again and placed her at the nest entrance again. Her seven workers all came out and did some ant care, I suppose. I don't know what went wrong, so if any Messor barbarus specialists out there can give m a clue, I'd be grateful.

[Phasmid]

Did you hibernate them?

[akell]

Hi Phas,
Do they need to keep hibernation longer than February? Or perhaps it is just good for them, as in, then the queen doesn't die?

[SteveUK28]

lol Akell.. every European ants needs to hibernate.

[akell]

Even Spanish ants? I thought they just needed siestas.

Edit Antstore - please use the edit function! Thank you!

post from 20:25

Ah yes, it is in the German info sheet, : Winterruhe: ja, von Ende November bis Mitte Februar bei 12-14°C. What month is this again Steve?

[Zagone]

My Camponotus herculeanus hibernated in room temperature. o.o; I couldn't move them to a better hibernation place this year due to messy apartment, but will do next winter. They seem un-harmed so far though, they woke up about 2 weeks ago.

Why am I typing this here? Because, I wanted to get to that Messor barbarus only require between 10-15 degrees to hibernate, where-as most other species hibernate at lower temps.

I'm horrible att tying strings, sorry.

[akell]

I do the same all the time. What is strange is that she's a new queen. She came from the store two weeks ago, so she woke up a little early. What I was afraid of was that she might have eaten some apple skin with pesticide still on it. I am usually careful about peeling the fruit very well but you never know. I'll have to empty the basin and give it a good boil wash. The workers, all seven, seem okay. Have to put tham in the boil wash too...it's a shame. Well, we all make mistakes. the trick is not to make them twice, right?
I've got some Camponotus ligniperda, been looking for the Camponotus herculeanus Are they as interesting as I imagine?

[Zagone]

I quite like them! But mine are still in their test-tube due to bad-luck with nests I've built, got a y-tong now, though can't connect them until I've finnished building the lid in College. But they're big and sturdy, just waiting to get my first majors, hehe. Might alrleady have one or so, but don't think so. Will see once the lid is done!

however my Camponotus herculeanus are very picky about fruit, so far only eaten apple.

[akell]

What's the weather like in Granada?