7 replies to this topic

[rptraut]

I have a small L brevicornis colony (queen +10 workers) in a test tube that I would like to move to a founding formicarium for hibernation. Do they overwinter with brood that I will have to move? The queen hangs out on the cotton, making it difficult to see if she has eggs or larvae.

[Manitobant]

Most ants (including lasius) hibernate with only larvae, both eggs and pupae will die in the cold.

[United-Ants]

Yes lasius brevicornis do hibernate with brood most lasius do

Edited by United-Ants, October 27 2022 - 7:05 AM.

[rptraut]

Thanks!  I know my other Lasius colonies have larvae, I wasn't sure brevicornis hibernate with larvae as well.

[Manitobant]

Most ant species in North America that hibernate do so with larvae. The notable exception to this rule is the genus formica, which always hibernate without any brood in the nest.

[rptraut]

What about Camponotus pennsylvanica?

[ANTdrew]

Most ant species in North America that hibernate do so with larvae. The notable exception to this rule is the genus formica, which always hibernate without any brood in the nest.

My Crematogaster have always hibernated with large clumps of eggs.

[Manitobant]

What about Camponotus pennsylvanica?

As i said, hibernating with larvae is the norm for most species of ants, including camponotus. If you have it, just assume it hibernates with larvae as the ants that don’t (including late flying single queens) won’t have any brood in the nest at this time of year.

Edited by Manitobant, October 27 2022 - 5:28 PM.