Carpenter ants starter colomy

[Tarzan2319]

So I had found a queen on the a ground and set her up in a test tube. She didn't do much but she laid one egg and it hatched out but currently she is no longer laying eggs or anything and I was wondering if there is anything I can do, like give her certain foods or what I can do?

[antlover21]

When did you catch her?

[Hawkeye]

So I had found a queen on the a ground and set her up in a test tube. She didn't do much but she laid one egg and it hatched out but currently she is no longer laying eggs or anything and I was wondering if there is anything I can do, like give her certain foods or what I can do?

Hi there!

Carpenter queens lay eggs in batches, they need to 'recharge' in between. Depending on your location she might be preparing for hibernation in which case she likely won't lay any eggs until after she wakes up in February or early March.
Another possibility is that she's short on proteins. Try feeding her a bit of boiled egg white covered with some honey. (Don't use the yolk as it will disintegrate and spread everywhere in your tube)

Feel free to join our Camponotus Crew thread if you'd like to exchange experiences and ideas with other Carpenter ant keepers.

[Tarzan2319]

Hey thanks Hawkeye. I am new to ant keeping so I've been doing research and i believe she is going into hibernation

[Hawkeye]

Hey thanks Hawkeye. I am new to ant keeping so I've been doing research and i believe she is going into hibernation

No problem