Camponotus floridanus

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 floridanus 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 floridanus to are listed below.

STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

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

Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Camponotus floridanus forms large colonies, reaching over 10,000 workers at maturity.¹ C. floridanus is thought to be one of the fastest growing Camponotus sp. in the eastern US. One study recorded colonies reaching 1,000-2,000 workers within two years of capture.¹ This species is strictly monogynous, with only one queen per colony.

Worker/Queen Information: Camponotus floridanus workers and queens have reddish heads and mesosomas with a black gaster. Workers range in size from ~6.5-11 millimeters, while queens are approximately 14-17mm long.² C. floridanus is polymorphic, with a minor and major caste.

Hibernation/Diapause: This species does not need to hibernate, and doing so is not recommended.

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 low-medium 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: Camponotus floridanus is a very versatile species and nests in both the soil and any open (or easy to excavate) cavity they can find.³ In captivity, they can thrive in many different nest environments, including acrylic, 3D printed, grout, and ultracal nests. Talcum powder, olive oil, and Fluon can be used to prevent escape.

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