Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Questions About Thief Ant Hibernation?


  • Please log in to reply
6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Guest_CrematogasterMan123_* - Posted August 10 2019 - 3:11 PM

Guest_CrematogasterMan123_*
  • Guests

Hey everybody, I read that it is not necessary, and even beneficial to not hibernate thief ants ( Solenopsis molesta ). Is this true? I caught 5 queens a couple days ago and I'd like to raise a super colony from them. Also is it the same for Brachymyrmex depilis? Should I hibernate them?

 

Thanks in advance.



#2 Offline ponerinecat - Posted August 11 2019 - 9:48 AM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

I don't think small ants, especiallly subterranian ones hibernate. It may depend on the temperature, though. Winter mornings here cause pheidole to curl over and move slowly.



#3 Offline Guest_CrematogasterMan123_* - Posted August 11 2019 - 4:05 PM

Guest_CrematogasterMan123_*
  • Guests

I don't think small ants, especiallly subterranian ones hibernate. It may depend on the temperature, though. Winter mornings here cause pheidole to curl over and move slowly.

Alright, I'll see what happens if I don't hibernate them. Hopefully, all goes well.



#4 Offline Unfrozen - Posted August 17 2019 - 12:51 PM

Unfrozen

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 112 posts
  • Locationmississauga

i just bought a one queen 300 worker colony do you have any workers?


I'm not going to hibernate mine either



#5 Offline 123LordOfAnts123 - Posted August 17 2019 - 1:25 PM

123LordOfAnts123

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 328 posts
  • LocationOrlando, Florida
They do hibernate, as does any insect found that far north. The ground can freeze as deep as 6’ in Ontario. Hibernate them as you would other ants collected in the same area. 4-5 months at 40-50 degrees. Skipping hibernation can have long lasting, if not permanent effects on ants that have adapted to the climatic cycles of an area over thousands of years.

#6 Offline Guest_CrematogasterMan123_* - Posted August 18 2019 - 8:21 AM

Guest_CrematogasterMan123_*
  • Guests

They do hibernate, as does any insect found that far north. The ground can freeze as deep as 6’ in Ontario. Hibernate them as you would other ants collected in the same area. 4-5 months at 40-50 degrees. Skipping hibernation can have long lasting, if not permanent effects on ants that have adapted to the climatic cycles of an area over thousands of years.

 

Alright, I'll hibernate all of my queens except for one. If the queen that didn't hibernate does better than the others, then I will no longer hibernate Solenopsis molesta.


Edited by CrematogasterMan123, August 18 2019 - 8:29 AM.


#7 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 18 2019 - 9:23 AM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California

They do hibernate, as does any insect found that far north. The ground can freeze as deep as 6’ in Ontario. Hibernate them as you would other ants collected in the same area. 4-5 months at 40-50 degrees. Skipping hibernation can have long lasting, if not permanent effects on ants that have adapted to the climatic cycles of an area over thousands of years.

You only need to hibernate them for 3 months.




1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users