Camponotus castaneus

Ants will typically only be shipped on Mondays or Tuesdays so that they will not be stuck in the mail over the weekend. Live arrival is guaranteed, if your ants do not arrive in good condition, please take a picture of the ants and contact us within 2 hours of arrival. With the summer heat, please be available to take them inside upon arrival. Refer to the refund policy for more information.

Buckeye Myrmecology has been granted permits by the USDA which allow us to ship these ants to many states in the Continental US. All shipments of Camponotus castaneus will include the relevant permit for your state and information on safe handling and disposal of these ants. States that we are allowed to ship Camponotus castaneus to are listed below.

STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,  Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

Species Difficulty: Easy, Camponotus castaneus are lots of fun to keep!

Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Castaneus forms large colonies, often with upwards of 2,000 workers at mature size. Northern populations can grow slower than other Camponotus species, while southern populations will grow much quicker, sometimes able to reach 100 workers before diapause. Colonies are strictly monogyne.

Worker/Queen Information: Camponotus castaneus are primarily known for their large worker size (the largest in the US!) and beautiful coloration that ranges from pumpkin-orange to a deep amber. A dimorphic Camponotus species, workers are 8-11 millimeters long, majors can reach up to 16 mm, and queens can be 16-22 mm long.

Hibernation/Diapause: THIS SPECIES REQUIRES A MILD HIBERNATION/DIAPAUSE PERIOD OF AT LEAST 2-3 MONTHS. To diapause Camponotus castaneus, remove them from their heating cable/mat or other heating elements so that they are in room temperature, and stop feeding them. They will enter a mild diapause for 2-3 months, after which they can be put back onto heat and begin feeding again. When it’s time for diapause, the colony will lay a batch of eggs that will stop development once they become small larvae. This will signal that it is time for their diapause.

Feeding Requirements: They will eat a wide range of feeder insects, including superworms, mealworms, dubia roaches, and fruit flies. They require constant sugars, in the form of sugar water or honey.

Heating and Humidity: Some form of heating is recommended. In captivity, they prefer lower humidity nests, with eggs and larvae requiring a higher humidity level than pupae. Workers do best in cooler conditions, while brood will prefer a heated environment, so the use of a heating gradient across the nest is optimal.

Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: One of only two soil nesting Camponotus species found in the eastern United States, Camponotus castaneus can be found nesting under rocks or in silty soil in forests. Talc and fluon can be used to prevent escapes.

Development Time: Brood takes approximately 5-7 weeks to go from egg to worker, depending on heating, food, and other factors.