Page 1 of 1

How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:16 pm
by jwatson16202
Hi guys, I hope someone can offer some advice here. I have a Lasius niger queen in a test tube founding setup and right now she has a couple of larval stage brood. Based on this I'd expect the first nanitics to enclose maybe middle of march.

Unfortunately I'm going to be away for a week shortly after this and not sure how I should handle feeding them.
Would you recommend I leave the test tube in a basin of some sort with some food available? Or would that result in mould before I return?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:26 pm
by Martialis
jwatson16202 wrote:Hi guys, I hope someone can offer some advice here. I have a Lasius niger queen in a test tube founding setup and right now she has a couple of larval stage brood. Based on this I'd expect the first nanitics to enclose maybe middle of march.

Unfortunately I'm going to be away for a week shortly after this and not sure how I should handle feeding them.
Would you recommend I leave the test tube in a basin of some sort with some food available? Or would that result in mould before I return?

Any advice would be appreciated.
They should be hibernating right now. However, the ants should be fine without food for a week, as long as they have access to water.

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:33 pm
by jwatson16202
Yeh I'll make sure water is available, even if it's in a fresh tube, thanks.

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 4:20 am
by jwatson16202
Wish my ants luck guys
They're on their own for the next week

My queen is still in her test tube with no workers but I've attached her to a fresh test tube in case her water runs out (not much left)

My other colony with around 20 workers has been fed a cricket or 2, has access to 2 tubes of water and one of sugar water

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 1:07 pm
by idahoantgirl
queens do not need to be fed until a bit after the workers eclose. She will be fine

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:35 am
by jwatson16202
idahoantgirl wrote:
Fri Mar 17, 2017 1:07 pm
queens do not need to be fed until a bit after the workers eclose. She will be fine
I hope you're right, I'll be home in about 20 hours so I'll find out then