Camponotus modoc

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 modoc 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 modoc to are listed below.

STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

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

Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: While estimating the colony size of Camponotus sp. can be difficult due to their utilization of satellite nests, colonies of Camponotus modoc have been reported to reach 10,000-20,000 workers. In one case, a colony was estimated at more than 50,000 workers.¹ Colonies grow at a similar rate to other temperate Camponotus sp., capable of reaching 20-50 workers by their first hibernation and 100-200+ by the next hibernation, provided they have proper care. While oligynous in the wild, this species is functionally monogynous in captivity, with only one queen.

Worker/Queen Information: Queens and workers are primarily a dark matte grey, with reddish-tinged legs and silver to yellow hair covering their gasters. There are distinct minor and major castes. Minor workers are around 6-8 millimeters long, while majors can reach up to around 16mm. Small majors typically begin to be produced between the third and fifth generations. Queens of C. modoc can reach up to 20 millimeters.

Hibernation/Diapause: THIS SPECIES REQUIRES A HIBERNATION/DIAPAUSE PERIOD OF AT LEAST 3-4 MONTHS. To diapause Camponotus modoc, 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 modoc’s 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.

Heating and Humidity: 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 recommended.

Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: Camponotus modoc has a wide habitat range, and nests in a variety of habitats in the wild, but their nests are typically found in wood. In captivity, they can do well in many nest types, including grout, 3D-printed, acrylic, Ultracal, and wooden nests. This species is good at climbing, so a barrier of fluon or talc is recommended.