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 fragilis 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 fragilis to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
Species Difficulty: Easy, an active and fun species.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Camponotus fragilis colonies grow large, and are capable of reaching around 2,000 workers. Colonies also grow quickly, reaching 100 workers in a year with proper care. This species is monogynous, with only one queen per colony. Major workers often appear between 15 and 40 workers.
Worker/Queen Information: Workers are large, approximately 6.5-7.5 millimeters long, and majors can reach up to 13mm. Queens of Camponotus fragilis measure in at ~13-16mm in length. Both workers and queens are primarily a pale yellow coloration, and larger workers/majors and queens can have dark stripes across their gasters. Camponotus fragilis is dimorphic, with a minor and major worker 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: This species requires a heating cable or mat, and must be kept over 80f. Prefers 85f. Medium humidity.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, C. fragilis is found in the arid deserts of the southwestern US, nesting under rocks and other groundcover.1 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: Approximately 4-6 weeks egg to worker with proper heating.
Justin Thomas (verified owner) –
Just started my first Ant Colony thanks to Buckeye!! They arrived today alive and healthy and ready to grow! Thank you so much Buckeye!! I will DEFINITELY be ordering more!
Josue Gomez –
Hi, I ordered this colony about 3-4 months ago and they’re doing super well! The 4 star rating isn’t because of the colony at all but because there was a piece of food in the test tube that had overmolded. Other than that shipping was great and ants are doing extremely well now!