Camponotus aethiops Queens and Colonies can be found in the warmer regions of Southern Europe. Camponotus aethiops ants are suitable for beginner antkeepers, making them a great choice for those new to ant-keeping.
Camponotus aethiops ants, also known as the carpenter ants, are capable of creating nests in dead rotten wood using their large mandibles. The workers exhibit extreme polymorphism, with large variations in size. Similar to Camponotus Nicobarensis, while they may be slow to establish themselves initially, they can eventually reach impressive numbers. Additionally, they display activity both during the day and at night.
Temperature and Humidity: The recommended temperature range for the nest is 21-25°C, while the Outworld should be maintained between 18-28°C. In the nest, the humidity level should be kept at 60-70%, whereas in the Outworld, it should be between 40-60%. During hibernation, which typically occurs from December until the end of February, the temperature should be around 12°C to 15°C but not lower than 12°C.
Feeding: These ants require a constant supply of water. For carbohydrates, they can be fed Best Ants Organic Honey. As for protein, fresh-killed and boiled insects or Best Ants Protein Jelly are suitable options.
Camponotus aethiops Queen and Ants' colony size: These ants have a claustral founding type, meaning the Queen does not require feeding until the first workers. Each colony typically consists of one Queen (monogyne) and an average of 700 workers. The Queen measures about 12-13mm, while the Minor/Media Workers range from 5-7mm and the Major Workers measure 8-10mm. It is important to note that Majors can bite.
Please consider using the PTFE Fluon Ants Escape Prevention as these ants are very fast. These ants prefer dry nests, so excessive humidity is unnecessary to keep them happy and healthy, we suggest getting one of our Ant Farms equipped with a temperature and humidity meter. A heating mat would be a great addition to your Ant setup helping the colony's fast growth.
An article you must read before you step into antkeeping: My Living Ant World
ease download the Ants' Care Sheet HERE
Guarantee: The queen is guaranteed to be alive on arrival.
These ants are not native to the UK and is therefore illegal to release them into the wild.
Contact us and we'll take care of everything.