ANTSTORE World of Ants

[FredeP]

Hey

I'm from Denmark and shall Lasius niger go in hibernate?

[Kiam]

look outside if you have Lasius niger colonies and if you see none then they have started hibernating probably so you should when they do or in your own time

[tail__]

Yes, all north european species need this for their health. They don't need to hibernate so long as they do in nature (3-4 months, sometimes even 6 months, like in northern Russia or Scandinavia) but at least a month yearly.

[JimmyVe]

In deed, they need it.

@tail__: i think a month is rather short. I would say at least 3-4 months for Central European ants and 2-4 months for South European ants.

[4mykids]

Hello JimmyVe - Hello all,

Looks like most here have gone into hibernation - don't see a lot of threads to read

My carpenter ants look to be going to hibernate as well... I have a great new plaster formicarium I completed a few weeks ago and will post pics of.

They have about a dozen yellow eggs (really small). They ahve been that way for a while now - I think I may lose them, any thoughts?

I keep then temp at about 80 degrees during the day and 60 at night on a 12/12 cycle. Even with these temps, they still have slowed down considerably. They don't eat much - how much should I feed them during this period? One Queen and about 8 workers in both colonies.

Thanks in advance. Will send pics soon.

[Kiam]

most off eggs die in hibernation i am told...

[miszt]

this is another reason to hibernate slowly, the queen will break her egg laying cycle and the eggs have a little more chance to reach larave stage and therefore a lil more chance to survive

[sithmaster676]

yeah larva stage is the only brood stage that survives hibernation but u colonies can not have to hibernate for at least a month yet
Sithmaster676

[badman]

how can you tell when they are hibernating? my colony are quite inactive anyway. How will i be able to tell between hibernating and dead?

[Purifier]

Hibernation starts between oktober and november i think.....and how you can see if they are dead? Hmm. When they dont move even you touch them
No i cant say how you can see a different between hibernation and dying, sorry.

[sithmaster676]

dying is when the curl up like the usual dead ant look when they are hibernating they just stand still occasionally moving there antennas, but when they are in hibernation its best not to disturb them.
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

In deed, if they are in hibernation they do not move much but you can see they are still alive. I know small colonies also do not move much so it is difficult to say. For most European ants hibernation start at end of October until March. Winter.

[Alby]

and what I have to do during this period??They need some particular food or nothing???and when hybernate is finished they need something???
I have lasius niger...

[miszt]

check out my care sheet, it wil explain all Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar

[Alby]

oh...I have another question...
I have bought 2 queen from antstore, only one with workers..the other one is still in the test tube with her eggs but I don't know if she will get in hybernate and when the workers will born..I've it at the 18 of september and when will I have to give her some food???