Black garden ant (Lasius niger) refuse food

[Coreylovell13]

Hello all,

I have 3 test tubes of black garden ants (Lasius niger) that absolutely refuse to eat anything. I have had them for around 6 months now, and the first generation of workers hatched but no more eggs have been laid by the queen and they will not eat anything I have tried like honey, crickets, apples, bananas, other fruits, and peanut butter. I am out of ideas, and they just will not eat. I have researched their diet and I can't find anything more to try. I really like this species for their size and gentleness so I don't want to lose these queens. Please help, thanks!

[George0123]

Probably a hibernation period Where are you from???

[UnrealSparks]

Hello all,

I have 3 test tubes of black garden ants (Lasius niger) that absolutely refuse to eat anything. I have had them for around 6 months now, and the first generation of workers hatched but no more eggs have been laid by the queen and they will not eat anything I have tried like honey, crickets, apples, bananas, other fruits, and peanut butter. I am out of ideas, and they just will not eat. I have researched their diet and I can't find anything more to try. I really like this species for their size and gentleness so I don't want to lose these queens. Please help, thanks!

Probably what George said.
If you live in a temperate region they may be trying to hibernate.

[Coreylovell13]

So I live in Georgia. I caught them in late summer, and they hatched out a few eggs and nothing since. I did hybrinate them in my fridge for about 2 weeks though. Should I put them back in? I've also got a black carpenter ant that will lay eggs and eat them but refuse to eat anythig else. Im just not sure what to do.