8 replies to this topic

[evanmancini2011]

Since all of my ant species are in hibernation, I have nothing much to do related to ants. Does anyone have any ideas of what stuff related to ant keeping I could do to keep me busy this winter?

Thank you for your time!

Evan Mancini

[AsdinAnts]

I mean you can get ants that don’t require diapause, you can also try and make your own formicarium for when winter season is over

[ANTdrew]

Look in the archives for lists of great ant books. Make outworlds and formicaria. Enjoy other aspects of nature such as bird watching or growing houseplants.

[Stubyvast]

For me, the hobby mostly just hibernates along with the ants. I spend some time doing things I wouldn't ordinarily have much time for:

Play some video games with friends, paint, fool around with 3d modelling and 3d printing, build stuff, read some more hardcore novels, work out, go on runs, things like that. 

 

Ant related, of course, I do raise a colony that don't require hibernation. I enjoy sometimes making new formicaria by hand, or taking inventory of what I have prepared for next year's nuptial flights. Things like that, not necessarily directly raising ants, but getting ready for them. I also love keeping terrariums, super fun. 

[evanmancini2011]

Ok thank you for all the amazing ideas!

Evan

[B_rad0806]

For me since I have ants that don't hibernate, I just keep feeding them year round. Outside of actually keeping ants, I spend my time researching different new areas that I haven't caught ants at before preparing me for next season. To add on, I also target species that I haven't caught before and figure out how to catch them come season time. 

[rptraut]

Hello evanmancini2011;

 

I'd like to introduce you to "Larry", a sourdough culture my daughter has been nurturing for over two years.    I got a sample from her for a friend of mine for Christmas, but I'm still baby sitting him until next week when I see my friend.   I fed him this morning with flour and water, and you see the result... like the creature from the white lagoon.   

 

 

 

That's okay because in the winter I like to bake and bread is something I make every couple of weeks.    I use dry active yeast now, I did make sourdough for a while, but, as you can see it's a living thing and each time you feed him he gets bigger and you have to make bread or throw it away.   I've used it for pancakes and waffles too.   It can get overwhelming.   Whether you're baking bread, a cake, muffins or butter tarts, time spent in the kitchen on cold winter nights will soon warm you with the aroma and taste of your finished creation.   

 

 

 

 

Black Forest Cake is a holiday favourite around here!

 

 

 

In the winter I have time to devote to my houseplants and give them the attention they sometimes miss during the busy hours of summer.  

 

 

 

Lately I've been tending to these small terrariums.   They've been grown under fluorescent lights for a year and required very little, if any, maintenance.    They're mostly comprised of succulents that enjoy high humidity, now they're big enough to split into more terrariums, ready for spring.  

 

 

 

 

These succulents will easily root from cuttings, even a single leaf, in contact with moist soil will grow roots and eventually a plant.   

 

 

 

 

Before starting, add enough water to your potting soil to grow your plants so you don't have to water after you've planted the terrarium.    In an enclosed terrarium like these small jars, moisture is lost very slowly, and watering is seldom required.   Two or three times a year, I soak them well for about 20 minutes and then pour off the excess.   

 

 

 

 

I took apart a Christmas decoration I'd bought and salvaged some "Hens & Chicks", an outdoor succulent that I'll root and grow in this terrarium until I transplant it into the rock garden. 

 

This is the time I check out the seed catalogues and plan my vegetable garden for next season.    It'll soon be time to plant seeds for my spring transplants.    I find it uplifting to do this as I look out the window at the snow and ice that still accumulates outside.    The older I get, the more I dislike winter and anything that brings spring a little closer is very welcome.

RPT

Edited by rptraut, January 8 2026 - 12:39 AM.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I mean you can get ants that don’t require diapause, you can also try and make your own formicarium for when winter season is over

I 2nd this^

making my own nests is challenging and enjoyable, i like the whole process even the fiddly tedious bits that drive me crazy. Something about designing them and crafting them from start to end is fulfilling.
though admittedly this is something i get to do about once a year at most, in terms of need.

And as said you could expand your colonies to include one/s that don't need a diapause break.  Like many Pogonomyrmex that can diapause in response to harsh conditions, but otherwise they make hay while the sun shines and do not require a seasonal break for their long term health. The queen of my pogonomyrmex occidentalis colony takes her own egg laying breaks every so often for a few weeks, while the colony just keeps on keeping on year round.

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, January 8 2026 - 12:54 PM.

[evanmancini2011]

Thank you all for the amazing tips and ideas, they’ve given me a lot of inspiration. Lately I’ve been keeping myself busy by growing a species of vines, and my marigold seeds have already started to sprout. I’m also waiting for my violet seeds to arrive, and I’m planning to order some desert beetles soon, which should add even more to my little projects.

I’m also hoping to start building a few terrariums, possibly with small creatures, so I’m open to any suggestions on what species would work best. And with winter coming, I’ll be designing more ant nests using my 3D printer. I only have two colonies at the moment, but I’m hoping to expand my collection this spring.

Thank you for your time!

Evan Mancini