Camponotus eggs

[skyfreeman]

Hey there,

I caught a Camponotus queen in the end of September and have had her and the initial eggs in a test tube configuration since. I live in British Columbia, Canada and so I know due to the weather and the timing everything may be slowed due to naturally hibernating at this time but I have noticed that the eggs haven't grown( or if they have, very little) in the 6 weeks they have been there. I am wondering if perhaps it is because she is unfertilized or if someone has had an experience similar to this and they just take even longer than I expected.

Any insight and help is appreciated, thanks

[Batspiderfish]

Hibernation.

[Serafine]

Eggs/pupae can hibernate, too.

[martinnate]

Yes and remeber that Camponotus are colustrial (not sure if I spelled that right) so some of the eggs will not be fertile b/c the queen will eat them if needed and like serafine said eggs and Larvea and pupea hibernate too. I know how anxious you r to have new arrivals but you have to be patient they will come. I caight mine this March and it took a good 2 months from egg to worker. I put her above the water heater and forgot about her, so to speak, I tried my hardest to look at them only once a week, and now their at about 30 and still growing. Havent hibernated yet. Tomorrow is our 1st freeze worning. Goog luck, "Ant Love Forever"

[skyfreeman]

Thanks for the replies . I knew the eggs and such hibernated from my degree just wanted to check with others to confirm this as normal as I haven't kept Camponotus before and wasn't quite sure of the combined effect of hibernation and their relative slow rate of growth.

[martinnate]

They are just slow. I'm told nothing fast happens until after 1st hibernation. I think mine are getting ready to hibernate.