Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

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 pennsylvanicus 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 pennsylvanicus to are listed below.

STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Every state in the Continental U.S. except for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, 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: In the wild, 3 to 6 year old colonies average at about 2,000 workers, and older colonies can number as many as 10,000 to 15,000. In captivity, first year numbers generally vary from 5-25 workers, increasing to 40-200 workers in the second year, and 350-1,500 workers in the third year. (All of this assumes proper feeding and heat/diapause). Colonies typically only have one queen, and are functionally monogyne in captivity.

Worker/Queen Information: Queens and workers are a concolorous black, with silver to pale yellow hair covering their gasters. There are distinct, but poorly defined, minor and major castes. Minor workers are around 5-8 millimeters long, while majors can reach up to 17mm. Small majors typically begin to be produced between the third and fifth generations. Queens of this species can reach up to 20 millimeters, and are possibly the largest ants in the Eastern U.S.

Hibernation/Diapause: THIS SPECIES REQUIRES A HIBERNATION/DIAPAUSE PERIOD OF AT LEAST 3-4 MONTHS. To diapause Camponotus pennsylvanicus, 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 pennsylvanicus’ 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: In the wild, Camponotus pennsylvanicus is a dominant forest species, nesting in fallen logs, tree stumps, and even arboreally in tree branches. In captivity, they can do well in a variety of nests, including acrylic, grout, and wood. Fluon, talc/baby powder, and olive oil can be used as effective barriers.

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