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Hibernation


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8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 8 2021 - 2:32 PM

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I have a Camponotus Novaeboracensis Queen in a THA mini hearth (I moved her early because her test tube had a huge mold outbreak) with 2 small larvae. I’m about to hibernate her so I just fed her a frozen aphid, is there anything else I should do (other then keep watering the nest during hibernation)? The aphid and food reserves should be able to get her through the winter right?
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#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 8 2021 - 3:24 PM

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Make sure they are tanked up on nectar. That will be more important than protein to get them through diapause. Keep the nest hydrated and in a cool, but stable temp. That’s about it.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 8 2021 - 9:00 PM

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How should I give the queen nectar? She doesn’t go to the outworld and she doesn’t have workers yet.



#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 9 2021 - 2:38 AM

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How should I give the queen nectar? She doesn’t go to the outworld and she doesn’t have workers yet.

Try offering some with a nestmate. Also, after reading your post more carefully, I say let those larvae grow into workers before hibernating. Don’t worry about the calendar date.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 9 2021 - 10:40 AM

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They don’t really seem to be developing much, they’ve been the same size for a week. Any ideas on how i could get them developing again? I don’t have a heating cable.

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 9 2021 - 1:28 PM

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Heat is what you need.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 9 2021 - 2:06 PM

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Is there anything else I can do? I have her in a cupboard under my desk in a fairly warm room (it only has1 AC vent and I keep the window partially open to warm the room up, along with a heated aquarium that’s above it on the desk, so I think it has enough heat). My eyes might be deceiving me but there might be a tiny difference in the size of the larvae after being fed that aphid.

#8 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted October 11 2021 - 12:16 PM

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A simple heater could be a low wattage incandescent bulb aimed toward your formicarium. I’d have a thermometer nearby to help you moderate the temperature though. Wie the water tower and nestmate to make sure the nest doesn’t dry out. 



#9 Offline Topgun757 - Posted October 13 2021 - 9:00 AM

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I think the aphid will be enough, I placed her into hibernation yesterday. I will have a heater ready for them when they wake up!




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