How to Hibernate Your Queen Ants in Captivity - AntsCanada Tutorial #4

Summary

In this video, Mikey, also known as Ants Canada, addresses his audience's curiosity about his recent absence from uploading content. He explains that it's fall in Toronto, and ants, including his tetramorium colony, are hibernating. Mikey shares his method of hibernating his ants in a cold basement, ensuring they're not exposed to outdoor temperatures that could kill them. He displays various species, including ponera, lacious Neo, Niger, and parasitic glacius, all lethargic and conserving energy for the winter. He also mentions his plans to possibly introduce parasitic glacius to non-parasitic colonies in the future.

Takeaways

• 📅 Mikey, also known as AntsCanada, explains the reason for his lack of video uploads is due to the fall season in Toronto.
• 🌡️ As the weather gets cold in temperate regions during this time of the year, ants go into hibernation, which limits the activities for ant keepers.
• 🐜 Mikey has a tetramorium colony that remains active even during the fall, unlike other species.
• 🏠 He shows his storage area in the basement where he hibernates his ants, which is cold but not exposed to outdoor temperatures.
• ❄️ Ants hibernate underground and can withstand a few degrees above the ambient outdoor temperature during winter.
• 🚫 Mikey emphasizes not to put ants outside during hibernation as they could die from the cold.
• 🧪 He has several species of ants in glass test tubes, including ponera, lacious Neo, Niger, and parasitic lasus, all hibernating lethargically.
• 🍯 Mikey provides a drop of honey for the ants to drink if they want, showing care for their needs during hibernation.
• 🔍 He checks on the ants periodically to ensure they are okay and to prevent mold, also adding honey every month.
• 🐦 Mikey has a plan to introduce parasitic glacius ants to a non-parasitic laus species' colony if he has one, aiming to create a parasitic glacius colony.
• 📝 The video script concludes with a reminder of how Mikey hibernates his ants and a thanks to his viewers.

Q & A

Why has Mikey, also known as Ants Canada, not uploaded any videos lately?

Mikey hasn't uploaded videos because it's fall in Toronto, and ants go into hibernation during this time, leading to less activity for ant keepers.

What does Mikey do during the time when most ants are hibernating?

Mikey shows how he hibernates his ants, keeping them in a cold storage area in the basement without heating.

Why is it not advisable to put ants outside during hibernation?

Ants brown in the ground during hibernation and can stay a few degrees above the ambient temperature outside, but putting them outside directly could lead to their death.

What kind of environment does Mikey use to hibernate his ants?

Mikey uses a cold, unheated basement storage area, which is similar to a garage or attic, to hibernate his ants.

How long do Mikey's ants remain in hibernation?

Mikey's ants remain in hibernation until around March.

What precautions does Mikey take while his ants are hibernating?

Mikey checks on the ants periodically to ensure they are okay, to prevent mold, and to add a drop of honey every month or so.

What types of ants does Mikey have hibernating in his video?

Mikey has several species of ants hibernating, including Poneroid, Lasius Neoniger, and a parasitic Glacius.

Why does Mikey add a drop of honey for his hibernating ants?

The drop of honey is provided for the ants to drink if they want to, sustaining them during their hibernation period.

What is Mikey's plan for the parasitic Glacius ants once the non-parasitic species have a colony?

Mikey plans to introduce the parasitic Glacius ants to the non-parasitic species' colony to create a parasitic Glacius colony.

What is the significance of the 'Do not touch fragile glass, test tubes sleeping ants the side up' sign in the video?

The sign indicates that the test tubes containing the hibernating ants are fragile and should be handled with care to avoid disturbing the ants or breaking the tubes.

How does Mikey ensure the ants' well-being during hibernation?

Mikey ensures the ants' well-being by monitoring them for signs of mold, providing honey for sustenance, and maintaining a suitable cold environment for hibernation.