Bicolored Carpenter Ants (Camponotus chromaiodes)

General: Camponotus chromaiodes is a large, orange and silver species from the eastern United States. Colonies get extremely large with polymorphism in their workers. Great beginner ants.

Diet: Camponotus chromaiodes is a generalist eater, but liquids should be emphasized. They’ll eat liquid sugars like sugarwater or honeywater, and common feeders  such as fruit flies, crickets, mealworms, and roaches. They seem to need liquid sugars more often than protein, but both should be provided frequently.

Temperature: These colonies benefit from a heat source. The best temperature for growth is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but if possible, add a heating gradient within the nest.

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 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 6-10 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.

Queen size: 16-20mm

Worker size: 7-12mm

Major worker size: 8-18mm

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