Help With Ponera pennsylvanica Queen
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Re: Help With Ponera pennsylvanica Queen
Ponera, like many other semi-claustral species, lays eggs during the winter. This allows them to adapt to tropical countries. Semi-claustral species also lay year round because they often hunt frozen insects during the winter. I know this from my Pseudomyrmex pallidus colony, the queens are definitely semi-claustral and they would be active even when I chilled them.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Help With Ponera pennsylvanica Queen
Alright, so then wouldn't it make sense to still keep them at a temp relatively near the outdoor temp? That way if the queen does need to hibernate, then she can, and if she doesn't, then her captive setup at least mimics how she would live in the wild locally.Dearth335 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2017 7:04 pmPonera, like many other semi-claustral species, lays eggs during the winter. This allows them to adapt to tropical countries. Semi-claustral species also lay year round because they often hunt frozen insects during the winter. I know this from my Pseudomyrmex pallidus colony, the queens are definitely semi-claustral and they would be active even when I chilled them.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Re: Help With Ponera pennsylvanica Queen
yes, but it slows down their growth and makes their colony development slower, in the wild Ponera often digs around 6 ft into the ground. this keeps the temperature constant.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Help With Ponera pennsylvanica Queen
Alright, thanks. Good info! I still stick with the technique of keeping their setup close to what they would experience in the wild, but it is good to know that ponera can lay eggs year round.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Help With Ponera pennsylvanica Queen
I have never heard of Ponera having deep nests nor reproducing during the winter. Any sources? If this even is Ponera.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
Re: Help With Ponera pennsylvanica Queen
Yup.Hypoponera Punticassa...Or Something Like That...Is There A Difference Between HibernationBatspiderfish wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2017 10:02 amAre you sure she is not Hypoponera sp., which is more common in the southern US? You would have to look for a small tooth under the petiole to tell them apart.
Hibernation isn't something you can see; it is just the ants at a cold temperature and lower metabolism.
Keeping ants for 6 years now.
Current Species: Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Camponotus decipiens,Camponotus snellingi Solenopsis invicta,Nylanderia sp,Brachmyrmex patagonicus,Pheidole obscurothorax,Pheidole moerens,Pachycondyla harpax
Current Species: Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Camponotus decipiens,Camponotus snellingi Solenopsis invicta,Nylanderia sp,Brachmyrmex patagonicus,Pheidole obscurothorax,Pheidole moerens,Pachycondyla harpax
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