Camponotus castaneusSpecies Introduction

Big, dark red-orange ants with a rewarding major caste. Species Introduction Claustral: a single, newly-mated queen seals herself in a chamber and raises her first workers entirely on stored nutrients and metabolized wing muscles. Native to the Eastern United States. Nests in damp soil under rocks, logs, and heavy leaf litter. Monogynous. Mature colonies reach a few thousand workers, with larger major workers providing food storage and colony defense. Typically active from dusk until dawn. A easy-going species. Camponotus castaneus requires a humid nest, solid carbohydrate availability, and occasional protein sources. Formicarium Substrate nests are recommended. TrapJaw Labs has found that Camponotus castaneus does best at ~78°F. They'll show increased activity and faster development if kept slightly warmer than room temperature, but can be kept without supplemental heating. A gentle gradient from 68-82°F is ideal. 1/2" works well for established colonies. Water & Humidity Most of the nest area must stay humid at all times. This species is unlike most North American Camponotus and requires high humidity in the nest. Recommended to use TrapJaw Labs PVA sponges for founding due to improved humidity. Keep a liquid feeder with water (distilled, purified, or spring) in the foraging area at all times. Carbohydrates Ample access to carbohydrates (sugars) is extremely important for all Camponotus. We recommend providing our Honeydew Honey once a week. It replicates the micronutrient profile of the carbohydrate sources that chestnut carpenter ants feed on in the wild (aphid honeydew and extrafloral nectar), which is hypothesized to help maintain the symbiotic microbiome found in neartic Camponotus. Please note that honey-water is not suitable for use in liquid feeders and should only be provided in feeding dishes or on top of sliced, organic apple. We recommend providing sugar-water (we use our Ant Nectar Mix) and fresh-water liquid feeders in the outworld at all times. Protein Camponotus carry a gut symbiont (Blochmannia) that, in layman's terms, supplements their diet and recycles nutrients. The result: they require far less protein in their diets than most ants. We still recommend providing them with appropriate insect proteins. TrapJaw Labs feeds our C. castaneus colonies with pre-killed Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei fruit flies, cockroach nymphs, and sliced mealworms. Once per week. Increase amounts to scale with brood development. Maintenance Week 1: Settle the founding queen somewhere dark and undisturbed. Stress from disturbance can cause her to consume her own brood, so avoid checking on her during this process. If founding in a test tube with a TJL sponge, humidity and water will be maintained throughout this process. Founding formicaria may need supplemental water added. Weeks 4–6: First workers ('nanitics') appear. Put out a stocked sugar feeder; offer a small protein item (one fruit fly or mealworm section) about once a week. Population climbs slowly — that's normal. Months 2+: Maintain humidity and liquid feeders 24/7. Protein remains a small item, provided weekly. Consider a larger humid nest upgrade and more outworld space as the colony begins to utilize 75% of the nest space; optional supplemental heating speeds growth (but don't overdo it). Diapause may be required for this species. Our C. castaneus are sourced from the southeastern United States, and their natural diapause period is shorter than those in northern areas. We recommend a diapause period of 6-8 weeks, starting in November or December. Remove supplemental heat sources but keep liquid food and water sources fully-stocked, and ensure that humidity remains high. Care Summary Humid nest environment Liquid feeder kept full Room temp works; gentle warmth (~78°F) accelerates growth Daily: Check liquid feeders are full Once per week: Offer pre-killed protein, clear leftovers within 24h Every other week: Top up nest humidity tray or sponge