Western Carpenter Ants (Camponotus modoc)

General: Camponotus modoc is fairly easy to keep in captivity. They are sugar-loving ants which can take a long time to grow, but small colonies are very rewarding nonetheless. Colonies get large major (soldier) workers!

Diet: A good diet with these ants would be liquid sugars (honey, sugarwater) and a protein source (fruit flies, crickets, mealworms). Fruit flies seem to be a favorite of this species. They can be fed daily or every few days, depending on colony size and volumes of feeding. It’s best to feed smaller amounts daily than large amounts every few days. Just make sure their habitat doesn’t become covered in sticky sugars!

Temperature: The colonies benefit from a heat source, such as a heat mat, heat cable, or heated room. A good temperature for growth and activity would be ~82 degrees fahrenheit at the hottest point, while remaining in the 70s at the other end.

Diapause: This species requires a diapause period, which should last 3-4 months ideally. During this time, the ants need to be cooled down to a low temperature, with around 39-40 degrees fahrenheit being ideal. You can achieve diapause by placing the ants in a controlled cooling unit, such as a wine cooler, mini fridge, or regular fridge if temperatures are safe. If you cannot use any of these, a non-heated room which stays above freezing could work.

Growth: Brood development can take anywhere between 5-9 weeks depending on feeding and heating, with 7-8 weeks being the average. Queens tend to lay eggs in batches. Colonies grow slow for the first year or two of development, but tend to reach the hundreds within 2-3 years. Their large size and slower pace of growing makes large colonies extremely rewarding, and very impressive!

Queen size: 16-20mm

Worker size: 6-12mm

Major worker size: 8-18mm

If ants arrive in bad condition, contact us for help. Live arrival is guaranteed.