Description

This is a striking, monogynous (single-queen), claustral, polymorphic ant species from Northeast Asia. They have three worker castes (minor, media, major). The species was also known under the name Camponotus xiangban. Their workers are robust, strong, and resilient. Due to their unique appearance and large size, they are popular among ant keepers. Their bodies are covered in dense hairs, and both the queen and workers are matte black with an interesting orange pattern, which is more striking on the largest major workers. In addition to their strong mandibles, they defend themselves by spraying acid. In the wild, they dig their nests underground. They form colonies consisting of a few thousand workers. The queen’s expected lifespan can reach 10-15 years. Due to its slow reproduction, establishing a colony from a single queen requires a lot of patience, and it is essential to provide a stress-free environment. Therefore, keeping this species from the beginning is only recommended for more experienced keepers. Once the population reaches 50 workers, they become much easier to care for.

This ant species is recommended only for experienced keepers!

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: The colony reproduces slowly at first. They raise 25-40 workers in the first year, but by the second year, they may reach a population of 100 workers. As is typical for Camponotus species, the colony remains shy while it has few workers, but once they reach several hundred, they become bolder and aggressively defend their territory. A mature colony consists of a few thousand workers.

Hibernation: As a tropical ant species, it does not require hibernation.