Camponotus floridanusSpecies 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 southeastern United States. Nests in damp soil, logs, and sometimes branches. Occasionally polygynous. Mature colonies reach thousands of workers, with larger major workers providing food storage and colony defense. Most active from dusk until dawn but maintains reduced foraging during daylight hours if temperatures allow.
An aggressive and fast-growing species. Camponotus floridanus requires a humid nest, solid carbohydrate availability, and frequent protein sources.
Formicarium
Nests should maintain a gradient of medium-high humidity and provide ample space. C. floridanus are quite adaptable and can 'make do' with most nest types, including substrate nests and arboreal nests. A secure nest and a fluon barrier for the outworld is recommended due to large colony sizes, and aggressive behavior.
Water & Humidity
Most of the nest area should stay relatively humid. This species is unlike most North American Camponotus and needs access to high humidity in the nest. In the wild, C. floridanus will often construct their nests such that part of the nest is within a log on the ground, while the rest of the nest is underground in the soil.
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 Florida 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. Especially floridanus as they grow much faster than other Camponotus.
TrapJaw Labs feeds our C. floridanus colonies with pre-killed Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei fruit flies, cockroach nymphs, and sliced mealworms.
Twice per week. Increase feeding with how much growth you want to see.
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.
Weeks 4–6: First workers ('nanitics') appear. Put out a stocked sugar feeder; offer a small protein item (a few fruit flies or mealworm sections) 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 is not required for this species.
Care Summary
- Humid nest environment
- Liquid feeder kept full
- Higher-than-average protein requirements
- Room temp can work; a gradient of 78-88°F significantly accelerates growth