Lasius niger larvae to cocoon a no-go!

[Antkeeper]

I feel like I have been waiting a long time now for cocoons from my Lasius niger 2015 Queen- 'Shadow'. Well over 2 months now.

Is it possible that some Queen's decide to just have larvae, like mature colonies and overwinter them until Spring?
However, I cannot see how the Queen would survive that length of time not feeding before hibernation and continuing on without food until the first workers eclose in March/April. 

I have her placed in a warm locker now in work, where it is always warm. (Computers etc... in same room)
I check her every 3 days to minimise disturbance and there is no evidence of Shadow feeding on her larvae, just the odd trophic egg.

I never had this problem before, last year I had a 3x Queen coalition together and nearly 50+ minims by the end of September and that was my ant-house! Those Queens were caught in late June 2014, quite early. This year I have gotten Shadow late July. Every other year has never been a problem, but this Queen has me puzzled! 

The only other option, is she is producing brood that can't develop further, but I strongly doubt this... 

Any thoughts and views on this is most welcome! 

[jeoff82]

All my Lasius Niger and Lasius Flavus queens that I caught in August still have no workers too, just cocoons so I'd say be patient, I reckon there will be workers within the next week. They have gone up into the loft now too and will be entering hibernation pretty soon as this is what would happen in the wild. I have fed them some sugar water a couple of times so they won't starve. I'm sure they will be fine.

[Wood~Ant]

My Niger colony only has larvae now as all the pupae eclosed weeks ago, but larvae can hibernate and wild ant nests often over winter larvae which develop into pupa the following spring.

[Antkeeper]

Oct 5, 2015 22:32:53 GMT Wood~Ant said:

My Niger colony only has larvae now as all the pupae eclosed weeks ago, but larvae can hibernate and wild ant nests often over winter larvae which develop into pupa the following spring.

I am just wondering Wood, would a newly mated Queen survive the Winter without feeding since July? I can give her honey-water etc.. no problem anyway. 

[jeoff82]

I think she would survive with or without food, as long as there is moisture

[jeoff82]

Just went to check on mine and I finally have the first workers, hatched today or yesterday about time!