Snelling’s Carpenter Ant (Camponotus snellingi)

General: Camponotus snellingi is a medium-sized, bicolored & patterned Carpenter Ant species from the southeastern United States.

Diet: These ants need sugars such as sugarwater or honeywater and a protein source, which can be anything from mealworms to roaches to crickets to fruit flies. Fruit flies seem to be a favorite. They should be fed at least twice a week. The queens do not need food during founding, as they are fully-claustral.

Temperature: These colonies benefit from a heating gradient, and at the hottest point it should be around 81-82. Ensure there is an area that is cooler.

Diapause: This species might need a short diapause period. If they seem to slow down, cool them down to cooler than room temperature for 1-2 months, and feed them less during that time too.

Growth: Brood development takes around 6-8 weeks. Colonies can grow somewhat quickly, reaching the dozens within the first year. Not much is known beyond a few dozen workers, though, as this species is rarely kept!

Queen size: 8-9mm

Worker size: 3.5-5mm

Major size: 5-6.5mm

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