Camponotos penn. concerns.

[antrchy]

I have a colony of camponotus pennsylvanicus. When caught there were dozens of eggs; which have all hatched since then. But despite my best efforts the queen has not continued laying eggs. I read on another thread she could start back during a specific month or could be waiting on some kind of seasonal cue and or her own internal clock. I didn't let her hibernate the full winter cycle, it was more like 2.5 months of rest for her. I just wanted to make sure that action won't have an adverse reaction to her health or egg laying ability. Can some one please let me know the best way to proceed?

P.s. What other insects are either easy to find or buy that camponotus pen. like to eat? I use crickets (store bought) and meal worms. But they don't seem to care for the worms and I'd prefer to have a variety.

[Wood~Ant]

Hi Antrchy and welcome to the Ant Hill.

From my own experience with Camponotus species I've found they can be notoriously frustrating, as a queen that lays eggs one year seems very slow to do so the next. It is probably down to this spring being very cold and the ants don't know if they should be out of dormancy or not?
I assume you are in the USA, and if your weather is anything like here in the UK it is freezing cold for late March.

All I can suggest for now is, try keeping the queen warm; but not too hot, and keep feeding little and often and see what happens over the next month, as some of my own ant queens are yet to start laying this year with the colder weather, so yours might do the same.