3 replies to this topic

[AntsAreCool55]

Hello guys,I have a question for European ant keepers. Are your ants already slowing down for hibernation? I live in Southern Europe (Croatia) and my ants have already began sealing themselves off from the outworld,and almost not foraging anymore. I am talking about Lasius and Camponotus ants. My Tetramorium colony is still active,but has also slowed down a bit. Messors are being heated so they are still active.

The weird thing is that outside temperatures are not low at all. It has been around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees F) for the most time,with some colder days.

I keep my non exotic ants at room temperature.

I usually noticed this behaviour much later in the year,never this early.

There is one Lasius niger colony that has complitely sealed themselves off and are not foraging at all. However,their gasters are swollen from the honey they have been eating few weeks ago.

Any suggestions why this is happening?

[AntsMAN]

I am in Canada, but I am seeing the same behavior. I think they are going early because of the weird weather.

[benjiwuf]

In Germany my ants caught this year are still working tirelessly on brood raising and extreme foraging. My species are locally caught Lasius and Formica. My Tetramorium are also raising brood and eggs. So no slow down for mine yet.

[Jeoff82]

In the UK the day time temperatures are still around 24c but it is cooling down at night significantly. All my Lasius species are still active with brood but my Formica species have stopped laying eggs. I also have Camponotus ligniperdus not native to England but can cope with cool temps, they still have a clutch of eggs/brood but all have moved to a narrow tube in the nest.