1 reply to this topic

[ctantkeeper]

hey guys, it's that time of year again. I usually put my colonies through hibernation later in the year, but my school work has been getting more difficult to handle. I thought that hibernating my ants earlier than usual would allow me to focus on my school work as well as some of my other projects (my phasmids / new ghost mantis). I usually hibernate them at 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit and feed them both protein and carbohydrate food sources once a week. This year, I would like to try something a bit different and put my ants into a state of total/complete diapause. I have never attempted this before and was wondering what temperature I should put them at that would remove the need to feed them but keep them at temperatures that wouldn't cause them any harm. Keep in mind that I also have termite colonies in need of hibernation as well and cannot risk their safety either. 

[Connectimyrmex]

Just give them as much food as possible for a week and then put them in a chilly place (right above freezing). I put my ants in my sunroom (the only reason it isn't under freezing is because of the single heating vent. It's my fancy walk in fridge xD). The only colonies that haven't gone into hibernation are the Ponera pennsylvanica colony and the Stigmatomma pallipes queen. I'm not sure why, but they just don't fall asleep!