ANTSTORE World of Ants

[stankenhar]

I decided to re check my hibernating Queen which I put in the outside shed about 2 months ago, last week she was ok, this week she is wandering around as a mouse has decided to build a nest next to the test tube she is in and I assume it got warm enough to rouse her. I have now bought her indoors and into the new nest I have built, she has left the test tube and seems quite happy but she isn't going into any holes I have started in the sand, and the ants that were with her don't seem to be bothering much about her, should I maybe try to get her to hibernate again? I've put in water, honey solution, and some dead fruit flies.

[JimmyVe]

Which species is it ? I think you better keep them out of hibernation now.

[stankenhar]

Hello, species is Lasius niger, I am in England

[JimmyVe]

Hmm, two months is not much for Lasius niger, how are they reacting now ? If they seems to do well i would consider keeping them out of hibernation. (make sure they hibernate well next winter.)

[stankenhar]

Hi Jimmy, they seem to be quite settled, Queen is not going underground but just exploring everywhere, the workers etc are happy sitting on a toffee, a couple of the smaller ants are now following the Queen about, she seems quite happy to just sit in a corner with some sand around her

[JimmyVe]

So they are just sitting there ? Are the workers exploring and feeding ?

[stankenhar]

Hi Jimmy, yes, the workers have been gathering around a sweet that I put it, and also they have been on the water soaked cotton wool, it's just the Queen who seems quite contented to sit in a corner now, she walks maybe a couple of inches then back into the corner, she does have a couple of small ants with her, but there are no new eggs, something has eaten the fruit flies I put in.

[JimmyVe]

Hmm, it is hard to tell. If they woke up to soon and the temperature raises to fast it can harm the ants. So it is never a good sing, but if they are feeding and don't try to go back into hibernation it's maybe better to keep them out.

[Zagone]

It might take a while befor the queen starts laying eggs after having come out of hibernation. For my Camponotus herculeanus it took 2-3 weeks befor the queen started laying eggs after coming out of hibernation.

[stankenhar]

I'll keep dropping in fruit flies and keep a close eye on the Queen without disturbing her. I'll write again if she starts to lay eggs, or if there is any major development.
Thank you all for the advice and information

[JimmyVe]

@Zagone: that is different for every species ! You can't compare Lasius niger with Camponotus herculeanus.

[Zagone]

It was an example, I've heard the same about Lasius niger, but I prefer to make examples of my own experiences, rather than others.

But indeed, it varies from species to species...

[JimmyVe]

You know it is an example but other people who read it don't know it.