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 decipiens 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 decipiens to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Species Difficulty: Easy, this is a great species for both beginners and experienced keepers alike!
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Camponotus decipiens have small colonies, often only reaching a few hundred workers at maturity.1 Exact growth rates are unknown, but should be similar to or faster than those of the larger Camponotus spp.. Polygynous colonies have been observed occasionally, but this species is typically monogynous, with only one queen.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Unlike C. nearcticus, C. decipiens is very uniform in its coloration, with both queens and workers having shiny black gasters and bright red mesosomas/heads. Workers range in size from ~3.5-5.5 millimeters, with majors reaching up to 7.5mm in length.1 Queens are approximately 9-12mm long. This species is polymorphic, with a major and minor caste.
Hibernation: THIS SPECIES REQUIRES A HIBERNATION/DIAPAUSE PERIOD OF AT LEAST 3 MONTHS. To diapause Camponotus decipiens, place them into a fridge or other cool area that stays above freezing, and leave them there for 3 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 decipiens’ 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: In the wild, Camponotus decipiens is primarily arboreal, nesting in hollow twigs, under bark, and in plant stems or nuts.1 In captivity, they can nest in a wide variety of materials. Some of these include acrylic, 3D printed, grout, ultracal, and wood. Due to their smaller size, decipiens are capable of nesting in much smaller and thinner nest conditions than many Camponotus. Also due to their arboreal nature, C. decipiens are great climbers. Talc or fluon are the only recommended barriers.
Development Time: Brood takes approximately 6-8 weeks to go from egg to worker, depending on heating, food, and other factors.
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