Hibernation?

[KingKyle26]

So I caught 3 queens a few weeks ago and have left them alone in a dark quiet place. I'm starting to hear people talk about hibernation. Do I need to hibernate my ants? If so, how do i do that? Or if I don't need to hibernate them, is there a way I should ensure them staying warm over the winter. I live around Philadelphia so we get pretty cold winters and pretty hot summers! Any help would be awesome!

[idahoantgirl]

So I caught 3 queens a few weeks ago and have left them alone in a dark quiet place. I'm starting to hear people talk about hibernation. Do I need to hibernate my ants? If so, how do i do that? Or if I don't need to hibernate them, is there a way I should ensure them staying warm over the winter. I live around Philadelphia so we get pretty cold winters and pretty hot summers! Any help would be awesome!

You need to hibernate when you start seeing that the ants outside aren't out anymore. Put your queens in a cold place. a garage, or a basement will work. if you had a beer fridge some people put them in there on a wormer setting. Do not hibernate them outside! They will freeze. but a garage will be okay. you don't need to make sure that she stays warm. the whole point of hibernation is that they get cold and slow down. sometimes the queen will appear completely dead. do not throw her out!!!!! She is alive but sleeping! sometimes it takes weeks after taking them out of hibernation before the queen shows signs of life!

[KingKyle26]

Is it still 0k to hibernate them even if they haven't laid their first eggs? Or is this normal and they will start after taking then out of hibernation?

[Martialis]

Is it still 0k to hibernate them even if they haven't laid their first eggs? Or is this normal and they will start after taking then out of hibernation?

Yes, this is okay. Formica, for example, do not lay eggs until after hibernation.