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Post by crockatt on Aug 11, 2013 20:41:44 GMT
Am afraid I didnt hold out very long and I risked lifting the stone roof where I believed the nest chamber to be, luckily for me it is just covering the hole to the main nest, so very little was distured , and was very happy to see about 5 ants come to see what was going on, I quickly replaced the stone, at least now I know all is well and the colony seems to be growing, I guess I will never know just how many ants there are, and what they are feeding on is a mistery, as the food I leave never seems touched, but I guess they must be coming out when all is dark and quiet. So for now am happy. ;D
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Post by crockatt on Aug 22, 2013 21:45:06 GMT
Have seen absolutely nothing, since lifting the stone, no foraging, and nothing going about when looking thru the sides, they may be deep in the middle of the nest, but before I at least seen 1 forager.
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Post by crockatt on Aug 24, 2013 21:22:23 GMT
I had the need to satify myself that this colony was still alive, so I again briefly lifted the stone the roofs the entrance to the nest, and was very happy to see life does go on, I even caught a quick glimpse of the queen but as before I have no idea what they are surviving on !!!!
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Post by crockatt on Sept 3, 2013 20:30:10 GMT
Finally seen a forager tonight, it has been coming and going for a few hours, criss-crossing the top of the nest, but not going near the pot. It reminds me of a forager out for the first time, exploring. Of course this could be the case, but if so, where is the original one? Guess I will never know for sure, but am happy to finally see some movement.
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Post by crockatt on Sept 16, 2013 8:55:53 GMT
No sightings of anything for a couple of weeks, I do not think this colony have taken any food etc for months now, I do not know what they are surviving on, hibernation is getting close and am unsure whether to hibernate them this year or not, any thoughts on.this matter would be greatfully recieved.
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Post by Jonzii on Sept 16, 2013 16:32:33 GMT
It could be that there may be some small creatures living in the soil, which may have provided some food for them, as I believe that this is normally how they feed in the wild.
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Post by crockatt on Sept 16, 2013 17:16:34 GMT
You could be right, there are loads of springtails though I donot think they eat them, but if they are there, there is no reason to think there are not other creatures too, hopefully this is the case.
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Post by crockatt on Oct 21, 2013 15:17:38 GMT
Just had a check under the stone where their nest chamber is, the queen is alive and there are also some foragers, but I never see any thing going about, have given them some food and honey water, but think I will make that the last and start bedding them down for winter, I can only cross my fingers they have eaten, as I have not seen them eating for months now, and hope that they make it through winter.
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Post by crockatt on Oct 23, 2013 10:34:09 GMT
Well I actually saw a forager out last night, not in the food pot, but just hanging around the top of the nest, so I took the chance and put some honey/water in on a cotton ball, do not know if this was what it was looking for but she had a long drink and returned to it later, I didn't put protein in as I do not think there are any larvae in the nest, but at least I know they have stocked up on honey.
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Deleted
Hibernating
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 13:51:27 GMT
They are doing better than you thought they would at the beginning of this colony
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Post by crockatt on Oct 27, 2013 16:48:59 GMT
Yeah so far so good, but after months of no sightings, all of a sudden there has been a forager coming out, I know it is taking honey/water and hopefully they are stocking up for hybernation, but think I may put some protien in, just incase there is brood, but I doubt that very much, am also wondering whether to put them into full hybernation or not, with it being such a small colony ?, oh the dilema !!!!
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Post by crockatt on Nov 1, 2013 19:10:17 GMT
Have seen foraging every day just lately by a lone ant, have started putting the honey/water back in the foraging pot as it is moulding quickly in the nest, so far the forager just seems to be taking any residue left on the nest sides and not found the foraging pot. I do not know why all of a sudden it has started coming out, as I thought they would be starting to hibernate now, and I still am in two minds as to put them in full hibernation or not.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Nov 1, 2013 19:18:59 GMT
My own are still fairly active, so may not need to enter hibernation for another 2 or 3 weeks. I know you're farther north up there in Scotland, but another week or so until the frosts take hold won't hurt the ants for now.
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Post by crockatt on Nov 1, 2013 21:36:54 GMT
Ok thanks, at least I know they are getting in some honey.
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Post by crockatt on Nov 21, 2013 23:19:55 GMT
Well my forager has been out nearly ever day for the passed 3weeks, so plenty honey/water has been had, but have finally made my mind up to hibernate this small colony, I will do as nature intended (as close as possible) queen hope made it thru her first winter alone, so hopefully can make it thru her second, with her daughter's by her side, so tomorrow, I will wrap them up and put them in their winter quarters, and cross my fingers, I see them next year.
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