14 replies to this topic

[Ender Ants]

I've captured a few queens in late August, and since its already reaching Fall in the United States, when should I hibernate them? Also, how can I tell if colonies are ready to be hibernated, if possible?  And, what if I caught a queen during early November, (since I've caught a queen during that time before), when would I need to hibernate it?

 

Since I keep a Lasius Niger Colony, I've looked up when I should hibernate them, and I found that they need to be hibernated during October. But, my colony doesn't seem to show any signs of slowing down, or looking 'dead'. I've also stopped feeding them as much, since it said that you should slowly stop feeding them, when it is near the time to hibernate.

 

Much appreciated as always

[Connectimyrmex]

You can hibernate your ants in standard hibernation time (october-march) or in reverse-style. Reverse-style is when you hibernate your ants in the fall and keep them awake over the winter.

[Ender Ants]

You can hibernate your ants in standard hibernation time (october-march) or in reverse-style. Reverse-style is when you hibernate your ants in the fall and keep them awake over the winter.

So, do I do this for all of my colonies? Even my ones that just started out their colonies?

[Connectimyrmex]

For your new colonies, do standard hibernation. You can slowly transfer one of your colonies to summer hibernation (move the hibernation up one month a year)

[ColKurtz]

Is there a guide, posted here or elsewhere, that is considered the "gold standard" or "best practices" on hibernation methods?

[MegaMyrmex]

I already hibernated mine, but I will try the reverse method in general.

[Evanthomas89]

I haven't begun hibernation yet, this is my first year as well, I'm nervous haha

[CallMeCraven]

Basically you can start hibernating them now until spring, march is usually typical. You just need to make sure they have plenty of water and put them away in a dark place that is about 10-15C, ideally about 12C (54F). You can check on them every couple of weeks to ensure they have water, but they will not require food and will not be moving. If you get very worried that they are looking lethargic, you can provide them a drop of honey, but only do this once if you really think they will not make it. 

 

I know a few species that have their nuptial flights in the fall will hibernate before starting to really establish their colonies, but this is species dependent. When you are talking about catching a queen in November, are you talking about winter (false honey-pot) ants? If that is the case, I believe you can still keep them in the 12C range and they will be active until it warms up, when they "hibernate". You just treat them like a normal ant species in the summer, except in the winter.

 

Your ants will let you know when they are ready to hibernate. Brood development and egg laying will slow or stop in smaller colonies, and the ants themselves will begin to slow and not be as responsive. The most important thing is if you are in a temperate climate like most of North America, you will need to hibernate your ant colonies. 

[Ender Ants]

I haven't begun hibernation yet, this is my first year as well, I'm nervous haha

Good to know that I'm not the only one  

[Ender Ants]

Basically you can start hibernating them now until spring, march is usually typical. You just need to make sure they have plenty of water and put them away in a dark place that is about 10-15C, ideally about 12C (54F). You can check on them every couple of weeks to ensure they have water, but they will not require food and will not be moving. If you get very worried that they are looking lethargic, you can provide them a drop of honey, but only do this once if you really think they will not make it. 

 

I know a few species that have their nuptial flights in the fall will hibernate before starting to really establish their colonies, but this is species dependent. When you are talking about catching a queen in November, are you talking about winter (false honey-pot) ants? If that is the case, I believe you can still keep them in the 12C range and they will be active until it warms up, when they "hibernate". You just treat them like a normal ant species in the summer, except in the winter.

 

Your ants will let you know when they are ready to hibernate. Brood development and egg laying will slow or stop in smaller colonies, and the ants themselves will begin to slow and not be as responsive. The most important thing is if you are in a temperate climate like most of North America, you will need to hibernate your ant colonies. 

Ok, thank you for the temperature requirement! And the queen that I caught was I believe a Solenopsis Invicta, but I'm still not 100% sure. 

 

If you want to identify it, (you don't have to), here is a link to the video I made on it: 

 

And would be 'knowing if my ants are ready to hibernate' would be if they are not foraging? My ants are still pretty active in their outworld, so does that mean that they are not ready to hibernate yet? I do know that in their nest, they are not as active. Thanks!

[CallMeCraven]

To me it looks like your ID of Solenopsis invicta is correct. If they are still pretty active I would say they aren't ready yet. Your queen will slow or even stop producing brood, and any brood they currently have could seem to stop/slow in development. It could also correspond with outside temperature. Even though your ants are isolated from environmental ques, some ants seem to have a pseudo circadian clock that drives the timing of changes in their behavior. Locally for me it has been sub 50F for a few weeks, and my Formica colony stopped producing eggs and the 5 workers stopped going into the small outworld I gave them. I would say if you time their hibernation with how the weather is changing outside, you should be good to go.

[AntsMAN]

I let them tell me when they are ready. They will give you signs. Most will block the entrance of the nest and you will no longer see any workers in the out world.

They will keep their larvae small and you won't see any pupae. Like the rest have said keep the nest from drying out give them a water source and they should be fine. I have hibernated mine as low as 5C (41F), but I had major die off''s, but I think that was due to the fridge drying out the nest to quickly.

This year I'm putting them all in a 20gal fish tank with a cover and putting them in a colder spot in the house 50-60F.

[Ender Ants]

To me it looks like your ID of Solenopsis invicta is correct. If they are still pretty active I would say they aren't ready yet. Your queen will slow or even stop producing brood, and any brood they currently have could seem to stop/slow in development. It could also correspond with outside temperature. Even though your ants are isolated from environmental ques, some ants seem to have a pseudo circadian clock that drives the timing of changes in their behavior. Locally for me it has been sub 50F for a few weeks, and my Formica colony stopped producing eggs and the 5 workers stopped going into the small outworld I gave them. I would say if you time their hibernation with how the weather is changing outside, you should be good to go.

Alright, thanks!

[Ender Ants]

I let them tell me when they are ready. They will give you signs. Most will block the entrance of the nest and you will no longer see any workers in the out world.

They will keep their larvae small and you won't see any pupae. Like the rest have said keep the nest from drying out give them a water source and they should be fine. I have hibernated mine as low as 5C (41F), but I had major die off''s, but I think that was due to the fridge drying out the nest to quickly.

This year I'm putting them all in a 20gal fish tank with a cover and putting them in a colder spot in the house 50-60F.

So should I just wait until they have no more cocoons? Or if there are no longer any workers in the outworld? Its already starting to be around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit here, even though fall has just started

[Martialis]

If you've got S. invicta, you're fine putting them in in November. As it's getting cold now, I'll be putting mine in this week.