Camponotus americanus

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 americanus 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 americanus 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, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,  Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Species Difficulty: Easy, this is a great species for both beginners and experienced keepers alike!

Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: This species grows large colonies, reaching up to 10,000 workers at max size. Americanus grows at a fairly slow pace during the founding stage, reaching 100-200 workers at the end of their second year. Like most species though, they will grow exponentially and this will speed up as the colony grows.

Worker/Queen Information:  Camponotus americanus is known for its uniquely variable coloration, often found with varying shades of red and orange across its mesosoma and gaster. C. Americanus is also a distinctly large species, making a case for having the largest minor workers in the eastern US. Minor workers are 7-8.5 millimeters long, and majors can reach approximately 16 mm. This species is strictly monogynous, and queens can reach up to 18 mm. C. americanus is dimorphic, with distinct worker and major castes.

Hibernation: THIS SPECIES REQUIRES A HIBERNATION/DIAPAUSE PERIOD OF AT LEAST 3-4 MONTHS. To diapause Camponotus americanus, place them into a fridge or other cool area that stays above freezing, and leave them there for 3-5 months. They need a constant supply of water during this time, so check every few weeks to make sure that they have not run out of water. Due to Camponotus americanus’ metabolic response to diapause, workers – and even the queen – may curl up and appear dead during diapause. However, this is a natural part of diapause for them, and not a reason to worry. Upon exit from diapause, workers will wake up over the course of a day or two, but queens may take as long as two weeks to un-curl and wake up after emerging from diapause. This is a slow process, and queens may appear to be up and moving, but then curl up again for a period of time. For more information about diapause, refer to our guide.

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. Feed at least once a week, preferably once every few days.

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

Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: Camponotus americanus is one of just two soil-nesting Camponotus in the eastern US. In the wild, they can be found nesting under rocks and logs in forests, often on the south-facing side of hills. In captivity they will nest in a variety of materials, including acrylic, 3D printed, and grout style nests. Talc, fluon, or olive oil barriers can be used to prevent escape.

Development Time: Brood takes approximately 6-8 weeks to go from egg to worker, depending on heating, food, and other factors.

Other notes: Camponotus americanus is very closely related to Camponotus castaneus, to the point that they were once considered the same species!