1 reply to this topic

[PaxxMantid]

hi all - 

 

I am getting ready to put 5 colonies into diapause. I know it's late in the season, but life has been chaos because we were supposed to move into a new house 2 months ago, but are still stuck in a small apartment with most of my things in storage - including my wine cooler!

 

2 x Lasius Niger, Tetramoriam Caspicus, Camponotus pennsylvanicus. and a Myrmecocystus mexicanus queen with 4 workers just a week or two old 

 

 

So, I 'm thinking to use the fridge. I worry that it might be too cold, and also that the vibration and shock from the door/motor will disturb the ants. So I build a little cardboard box with bubble wrap to cushion vibration, and hopefully they'll be OK. 

 

I checked the temp and it was about 34f, but I can adjust it up and see if I can get it up to closer to 40. 

 

Does this sound like a reasonable plan ?I can see them slowing down and trying to go into diapuse - they aren't active at all, so I really need to cool them off!!

 

 

 

[FeedTheAnts]

I put mine in the fridge and it works just fine. The temperature in my fridge is a little closer to 40f though, so I would definitely raise it up from 34f. If they are in test tubes then wrap the tubes up in Kleenex and tape it together. I'd put them on the door of the fridge (on the racks where you might hold mustard or something like that) because the temperature will be most stable there. Whatever you do, don't put them at the back and up high. This is usually the coldest spot, and it occasionally will dip below freezing even if the rest of the fridge is set at 40f. Hope this helps.