7 replies to this topic

[PaxxMantid]

I got a mexicanus queen late in the season this year. She's a real beauty, big with a shiny gold color and very active. She had brood but no workers. So, I was advised to wait for the girls to eclose and get things started before diapause. All my other colonies are in the fridge, currently at 49 degrees F.

 

Now, the queen has 4 workers and they've been hanging out eating sugar and cricket parts for 3 weeks. It's December so I want to get them into the cold and try to keep them on a natural schedule. 

 

I am having trouble finding any specifics about how to hibernate these mexicanus. Can I just put them in with the others? I plan to slowly reduce the temp in there to around 42.  Will they honepots be ok in there? 

 

Also, because they live in the desert is it possible they can't handle that cold OR need a shorter diapuse? Any info much appreciated!!!

[Zeiss]

The only ants you should be hibernating are those from high elevations like in the mountains.  Honeypots don't need to be hibernated.

[PaxxMantid]

The only ants you should be hibernating are those from high elevations like in the mountains.  Honeypots don't need to be hibernated.

 

Oh no! That is actually opposite what I was told on a fb group where I asked. I am having trouble finding any definitive answer. It does make sense that they live in the desert and it's warmer there, but it does get pretty cold in the desert here in CA.  Still researching.

[Zeiss]

They do not need to hibernate and I am pretty sure on that.  Myself and various users of this forum have kept them over winter without hibernating and some have even gotten their colonies into the hundreds without hibernation.  What is that FB group?  They may be saying things without knowing what they're talking about.

[Superant33]

I have kept honeypots for years. I have never hibernated them.

[FSTP]

They're desert ants, they don't need to be hibernated. Going forward I would be very suspicious of any advice this FB group gives. This is pretty basic stuff.

[nurbs]

What kind of nest do you have her in? That's going to be important. Take some pics.

 

No, do not hibernate. Over the Winter break most of my desert ants are kept by a window at room temp, which is cold. I don't heat them, however, just to simulate nature.

 

I use Tarheel Ants nests, type III. With a bit of tweaking, they work very well for honeypots and make observation fun.

 

https://www.instagra.../p/B5bDp4RAT6r/

[PaxxMantid]

What kind of nest do you have her in? That's going to be important. Take some pics.

 

No, do not hibernate. Over the Winter break most of my desert ants are kept by a window at room temp, which is cold. I don't heat them, however, just to simulate nature.

 

I use Tarheel Ants nests, type III. With a bit of tweaking, they work very well for honeypots and make observation fun.

 

https://www.instagra.../p/B5bDp4RAT6r/

 

Hi - She's in a test tube that she came in when I got here - she seemed very stressed when she arrived. So, I decided to leave her in the tube to let her destress from being transported and hopefully have some brood eclose. I have barely checked on her since I got her in late September. Now she has 4 workers and has been eating and looking great.  

 

The person who gave her to me said she needs diapause but clearly that's not the case. My plan is to move her into a THA Mini Hearth. Since she doesn't need diapause,  and I suspect the test tube isn't great for her, I was thinking to connect the test tube to the Mini Hearth and just let them move into it when/if they want to. If I keep her on my ant shelf but not under the ceramic light, they will be at around 70f most of the time, and I have another spot that is more like 60f so that could work, too.

 

Let me tell you, this queen is a real beauty and is very active! She's constantly doing things and on the move, as are her workers. When i took the cotton out of the test tube to offer a cricket leg and a drop of nectar, it was actually hard to keep the workers in because they want to run out and investigate! 

 

I am trying to learn as much as I can about them and keep them happy. I know this is not an easy species and I am a relative beginner (this is my 5 colony, 2nd year) so would love to get any tips!