7 replies to this topic

[toe_biter606]

Hello, I have a nearly 3-year-old Camponotus novaeboracensis colony that was doing great until it began losing workers around May of 2025, and after a four-month diapause beginning around the same time, about 200 of the roughly 300 workers had died.

 

The colony has been on a weird, shortened (edit: the warm period was shortened, not the cold period) diapause schedule thanks to their slow growth, which may be part of the problem.  (I did this based on 
https://www.formicul...rate Camponotus), 

 

After diapause, I gave them access to urea solution for a few months, figuring that although the evidence was tenuous, it probably wouldn't hurt. After I noticed several workers dying with twitching legs, I realized I may have gone overboard and removed the urea.

My hopes of miraculous recovery were dashed upon noticing that the workers are eating most of the pupae, which look extremely dead. They've also been ignoring most protein.

My general care hasn't changed. They've been fed sugar water, crickets, fruit flies, superworms, and occasionally eggs, and housed in a Tar Heel Ants setup with a heating wire, combined with my own outworld and (briefly, until too many died) a secondary ytong nest.

If anyone has any ideas what might be causing this, or anything I could try to fix it, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!!
 

Edited by toe_biter606, January 4 2026 - 8:08 AM.

[ReignofRage]

"...it began losing workers around May of 2025, and after a four-month diapause beginning around the same time." Do you mean that you put them into a diapause starting in May and it went for four-months (ending in the month of August or September)? Could you provide more information on prior diapausing schedules? Secondly, the urea idea is somewhat fictitious--barely supported by any evidence rather more of a speculation--and is something that would be a long-term supplement that would sustain the gut biome/microbes and not a quick fix/medicine, unfortunately. And let's just point out that all of the people who used their urine should have used urea powder that is abundantly available and cheap online... 

[bmb1bee]

Perhaps the ytong nest was the issue? It's possible there was either a pathogen or some kind of chemical in the nest that spread and killed off the workers. It could also be a dietary issue, like if the sugar water had fermented or if the eggs had some harmful substance. As Reign said though, we would need a bit more info.

[toe_biter606]

 

 

Do you mean that you put them into a diapause starting in May and it went for four-months (ending in the month of August or September)? Could you provide more information on prior diapausing schedules?

I've been diapausing them for about 4 months beginning when they show obvious signs of expecting the growing season to be over (larvae remaining at one instar, no pupae or eggs, avoiding heat, rejecting protein). This last time, they were out of the fridge from December to June, and then in diapause for the months of June-September, so four months. 
 

 

 

Secondly, the urea idea is somewhat fictitious--barely supported by any evidence rather more of a speculation--and is something that would be a long-term supplement that would sustain the gut biome/microbes and not a quick fix/medicine, unfortunately.

That's why I gave them access to a dilute solution of it for several months. I intended to do that anyway just in case the questionable idea turned out to be true, thinking at worst it would do nothing. I included it in the post because at least that way people don't speculate a urea deficiency caused all the death. Thankfully no urine was involved in this incident   
 

 

Perhaps the ytong nest was the issue? It's possible there was either a pathogen or some kind of chemical in the nest that spread and killed off the workers. It could also be a dietary issue, like if the sugar water had fermented or if the eggs had some harmful substance. As Reign said though, we would need a bit more info.

 

Hmmm, the nest could be it. It was an "esthetic ants" nest. It's been disconnected for a few weeks now that the colony has shrunk, so I'll be cautious if I ever reattach it. Also, I'll increase my sugar-replacing schedule. 

Thanks!!

Edited by toe_biter606, January 4 2026 - 7:10 PM.

[ReignofRage]

The diapause schedule of heating from December through June and then diapausing from June through September is the issue. A diapause schedule should really be through winter and then heated through the late Spring and Summer.

[AnthonyP163]

I've seen a lot of colonies do pretty well even when growing/diapause schedules are completely flip-flopped. Although that could totally be an issue, It could be worth looking into something else. What temperature do you diapause them at? What nest do you diapause them in? Where do you diapause them? I've had issues with moisture and temperature in diapause for a lot of these temperate Camponotus and Lasius. If 200 workers died in diapause, I would assume that something within was the cause.

[toe_biter606]

I've seen a lot of colonies do pretty well even when growing/diapause schedules are completely flip-flopped. Although that could totally be an issue, It could be worth looking into something else. What temperature do you diapause them at? What nest do you diapause them in? Where do you diapause them? I've had issues with moisture and temperature in diapause for a lot of these temperate Camponotus and Lasius. If 200 workers died in diapause, I would assume that something within was the cause.

I diapaused them between 1-5 degrees Celsius (34-41 degrees Fahrenheit) while in a Tar Heel Ants stronghold connected to the aforementioned esthetic ants ytong nest. As far as I know, there was water in the nest throughout the diapause as I refilled the reservoir regularly, but maybe it dried up at some point without me noticing? Although that wouldn't  explain the ants eating their pupae and continuing to die months after diapause ended.
 

 

The diapause schedule of heating from December through June and then diapausing from June through September is the issue. A diapause schedule should really be through winter and then heated through the late Spring and Summer.

This seems more likely to me. Should I put them into diapause now (even though their diapause ended just 4 months ago) and then begin that schedule in the spring?

Thanks again!!

[ReignofRage]

You could try diapausing them now and taking them out at a normal time. However, they may not bounce back.