{"product_id":"prenolepis-imparis-winter-ant-queen-colony","title":"Prenolepis imparis – Winter Ant Queen \/ Colony","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntermediate. They are calm and manageable once established, but their unusual seasonal cycle makes them a little less straightforward than more standard beginner species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOverview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e, commonly known as the Winter Ant or False Honey Ant, is one of the most unusual ants in the hobby. While many ant species are most active in warm weather, this species stands out for its cool-weather activity and can even forage in very cold conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are called false honeypot ants because some workers can develop swollen gasters and act as food-storage workers for the colony. This gives the colony a very unique look and helps them store reserves. Their smooth light brown to darker brown colour, calm behaviour, and unusual seasonal rhythm make them feel very different from typical fast, heat-loving ant species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Behaviour\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e is calm, steady, and very different from most warm-weather ants. Instead of being most active during hot summer weather, this species is known for cool-weather activity and often becomes less active during warmer periods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColonies tend to be more secretive and controlled rather than aggressive or explosive. They are best for keepers who enjoy watching natural seasonal rhythms, food storage behaviour, and gradual colony development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most interesting behaviours of this species is the development of swollen food-storage workers, often called false honeypots or corpulent workers. These workers store liquid food reserves inside their bodies, giving the colony a unique appearance and making \u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e stand out from more common beginner species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are not usually a fast display species at the start. Instead, they reward patient keepers with unusual behaviour, cool-weather activity, and a very distinct colony structure as they mature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eDiet\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn captivity, feed \u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e liquid sugars such as honey-water, sugar-water, or QNC Honey Nectar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor protein, offer very small feeder insects such as fruit flies, tiny feeder pieces, or other appropriately sized prey items. We also recommend peanut beetle cultures because they require almost no maintenance and produce perfectly sized feeders for small and starting colonies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey also enjoy liquid sugars and small prey items as the colony grows. Feed small amounts at a time and remove leftovers before mold develops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFounding Type\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFully claustral. This means the queen can raise her first workers without being fed, as long as she has a proper water source and is kept in a stable, low-stress setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eColony Structure\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e has one main worker type, so you will not see large majors or soldiers like in some other ant species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this species special is that some workers can become swollen food-storage workers, sometimes called false honeypots or corpulent workers. These workers help store extra food reserves for the colony and give the species a very unique appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis species can also sometimes live with multiple queens, which is called polygyny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eQueen \u0026amp; Worker Sizing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQueen: 7.0–8.5 mm\u003cbr\u003eWorkers: 3.0–4.5 mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowth \/ Mature Colony Size\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMature colonies can reach around 10,000 workers, with multi-queen colonies often growing larger than single-queen colonies when kept successfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eDiapause \/ Hibernation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e has a very unusual seasonal rhythm. Rather than being most active during the hottest part of the year, this species is known for cool-weather activity and often slows down heavily or becomes dormant during hot summer periods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA short winter cooling period is usually beneficial. Avoid trying to force constant activity with heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperature \u0026amp; Humidity\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNest temperature: 15–20°C preferred\u003cbr\u003eNest humidity: 50–60%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep around half of the nest moist so the colony has access to a moisture gradient.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid overheating this species. Do not place them near heat mats, heat cables, sunny windows, or hot electronics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Setup\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e does best in a clean, stable setup with reliable hydration and a proper moisture gradient. QNC modular nests are especially well suited for this species because they provide long-lasting humidity while still allowing parts of the nest to remain drier. This lets the colony choose the conditions it prefers for workers, brood, and food storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor queens or very small colonies, start with the included hydrated test tube setup or a QNC founding nest. Once the colony has enough workers and is feeding confidently, they can be moved into a small QNC modular formicarium with a connected outworld.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the colony grows, the QNC modular system makes expansion simple. You can connect additional nests, outworlds, or habitat modules without disturbing the full colony, which is especially useful for a seasonal species like \u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e that may slow down during warmer months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBest For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeepers who want a unique cool-weather ant species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople who can keep ants at cooler room temperatures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePatient keepers who enjoy slower, seasonal colony growth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeepers interested in false honeypot \/ food-storage worker behaviour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColonies kept without extra heat mats or heat cables\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnt keepers who want a calm, less aggressive species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSetups with stable hydration and a clear moisture gradient\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQNC founding nests, small modular nests, and expandable cool-room setups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eImportant Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not overheat this species.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the test tube hydrated at all times.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not move the colony into a large setup too early.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExpect slower or reduced activity during warmer periods.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLive ants are sensitive during shipping and should be unpacked carefully after arrival.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat's Included\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1× \u003cem\u003ePrenolepis imparis\u003c\/em\u003e queen or colony, depending on selected variant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1× 16 × 125 mm hydrated test tube setup with cotton plug\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProtective bubble wrapping for shipping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Queens'N'Colonies","offers":[{"title":"Queen","offer_id":52375548428564,"sku":null,"price":34.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Queen (with 1-5 workers)","offer_id":52375548461332,"sku":null,"price":44.47,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Queen (with 5-10 workers)","offer_id":52375548494100,"sku":null,"price":54.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Queen (with 10-25 workers)","offer_id":52375548526868,"sku":null,"price":79.47,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Queen (with 25-50 workers)","offer_id":52375548559636,"sku":null,"price":109.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Queen (with 50-100 workers)","offer_id":52375548592404,"sku":null,"price":154.47,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Queen (with 100-250 workers)","offer_id":52375548625172,"sku":null,"price":229.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/5760\/1812\/files\/084a7f06-cb23-41f1-8e41-ef093f97e4ca.png?v=1780776376","url":"https:\/\/www.queensncolonies.com\/products\/prenolepis-imparis-winter-ant-queen-colony","provider":"Queens'N'Colonies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}