Camponotus queen care

micheldied

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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I've found a Camponotus queen (not sure of the species, I'm on Vancouver island) with her wings still attached in my room. I don't know if she's gravid, but isn't this a pretty late time for finding queens?

I've decided to try keeping her but I need a few tips. Since it's so close to winter, do I need to hibernate her (it doesn't really get too cold here in the winter though, usually 0-10 celcius during the coldest weeks)? Also, is a test tube setup necessary, or can I place her in a plastic container with a small tube-shaped container in it that she can enter and leave as she pleases? I'll likely have a small container of water in there for humidity.

I've fed her sugar water, will I need to keep providing this (and a variety of other foods) until she lays and her brood hatches, if she lays?

Thanks for any replies.
 

Jacob Ma

Arachnoknight
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
281
Do you already have some sort of setup for the queen? They are carpenter ants, so she'll need some kind of wood/woody substrate to burrow into. I think first, you should start with online/paper literature, and then come to a forum like this for other questions. Sorry if I came out a little harsh, but for reference here are a few websites:
http://www.antfinity.com/caresheets/camponotus-ligniperda-caresheet/
http://www.formiculture.com/topic/2554-camponotus-pennsylvanicus/
http://tarheelants.blogspot.com/2015/06/basics-of-ant-keeping-series-ii-i-have.html
 

micheldied

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Messages
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Do you already have some sort of setup for the queen? They are carpenter ants, so she'll need some kind of wood/woody substrate to burrow into. I think first, you should start with online/paper literature, and then come to a forum like this for other questions. Sorry if I came out a little harsh, but for reference here are a few websites:
http://www.antfinity.com/caresheets/camponotus-ligniperda-caresheet/
http://www.formiculture.com/topic/2554-camponotus-pennsylvanicus/
http://tarheelants.blogspot.com/2015/06/basics-of-ant-keeping-series-ii-i-have.html
I've actually seen all those. My main concern is whether I need to hibernate it considering how close it is to winter right now.
From what I've read (care sheets as well as journals), wood isn't actually necessary for keeping them?
I have it in a small container within another small container. The space in the larger container is filled with wet paper towel, and there's a hole in the side of the small container containing the queen where she can drink from the paper towel. I'm using black earth/mulch as a thin layer of substrate in the small container.
 

shutout2000

Arachnoknight
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Messages
162
Hi, you need a set up like this if she is fertile. If she has has wings she more than likely is not fertile. but here is my setup, it's water blocked with cotton in a test tube. If she is fertile, she will lay eggs and their is no need to feed her until the queens first workers arrive! I currently have her in hibernation and she has larvae!

http://i.imgur.com/HyU48a2.jpg

Also, i am a member here, (T.C. A well known member) and here is a super handy link for the species
http://www.formiculture.com/topic/2554-camponotus-pennsylvanicus/
 

micheldied

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Messages
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Hi, you need a set up like this if she is fertile. If she has has wings she more than likely is not fertile. but here is my setup, it's water blocked with cotton in a test tube. If she is fertile, she will lay eggs and their is no need to feed her until the queens first workers arrive! I currently have her in hibernation and she has larvae!

http://i.imgur.com/HyU48a2.jpg

Also, i am a member here, (T.C. A well known member) and here is a super handy link for the species
http://www.formiculture.com/topic/2554-camponotus-pennsylvanicus/
I don't believe she is fertile either at this point (very odd time of the year too), and all she does is run around the setup. I'm going to let her go.
 

Chris WT

Arachnosquire
Joined
Oct 29, 2016
Messages
91
I'm so happy so see other people that also love ants. I'm thinking of raising a Tetramorium colony this spring. Wish you the best with your queen. AntCanada on Youtube has a wealth of information on most common US species
 

shutout2000

Arachnoknight
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Messages
162
I'm so happy so see other people that also love ants. I'm thinking of raising a Tetramorium colony this spring. Wish you the best with your queen. AntCanada on Youtube has a wealth of information on most common US species
I am a nut about all insects, especially ants... I am following you. Be sure to post your colonies here occasionally and I will as well. :)
 

Chris WT

Arachnosquire
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Messages
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I am a nut about all insects, especially ants... I am following you. Be sure to post your colonies here occasionally and I will as well. :)
I got started on ants this summer actually. Ive been battling them in my yard. My apartment is the ant mecca and they have been encroaching the house and slowly invading, I decided to destroy them that I must learn their habits. I developed a profound respect for the ants and have been reading about them exhaustively. I have no colonies yet although I consider myself mildly educated. I may already have a prospective queen in my possession but I have yet to attempt to identify her. This year I plan on putting my knowledge to use and capturing some queens and I may just sell them on the GAN or on here (Illinois only). My space is limited right now because of reptiles and other inverts. Ill have to choose between more centipedes or the queen. Just depends on what species I find I guess.;)
 

micheldied

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Messages
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I'm so happy so see other people that also love ants. I'm thinking of raising a Tetramorium colony this spring. Wish you the best with your queen. AntCanada on Youtube has a wealth of information on most common US species
Yeah I've seen a lot of their videos. I emailed them and they couldn't help with the ID on the one I found, which I found odd (there aren't that many ant species in BC).
 

Chris WT

Arachnosquire
Joined
Oct 29, 2016
Messages
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Yeah I've seen a lot of their videos. I emailed them and they couldn't help with the ID on the one I found, which I found odd (there aren't that many ant species in BC).
Put the picture on here. Maybe someone can help.
 

micheldied

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Put the picture on here. Maybe someone can help.
Unfortunately I couldn't get a decent enough picture to ID from, but I'm 90% sure it's a Camponotus species (most other genera found here are pretty different).
 

shutout2000

Arachnoknight
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Messages
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I can almost ID any queen. Give me the link to your queen and I will let you now the species.
 

myrmecophile

Arachnolord
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Dec 22, 2006
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654
Not C. modoc, that is an all black species. I am in Arkansas. You are generally correct about the overall care.
 

micheldied

Arachnoprince
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Hi, I am as well thinking C. Vicinus. or C Modoc. Where do you live? Also i am keeping a journal of C. Pennsylvanicus here http://insectandentomology.forumotion.com/t30-camponotus-pennsylvanicus-queen-with-larvae will update it when she comes out of hibernation. All Camponotous are pretty much cared for in the same way :)
I live in Nanaimo, British Columbia. As far as I have read, we have Camponotus herculaenus and C. modoc here in BC. Possibly C. pennyslvanicus.

Are tropical Camponotus queens fully claustral as well? I am going back to Singapore in a month and may try to find some C. gigas queens there to setup.
 

shutout2000

Arachnoknight
Joined
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Messages
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I live in Nanaimo, British Columbia. As far as I have read, we have Camponotus herculaenus and C. modoc here in BC. Possibly C. pennyslvanicus.

Are tropical Camponotus queens fully claustral as well? I am going back to Singapore in a month and may try to find some C. gigas queens there to setup.
I am pretty sure, I unfortunately living in America can't carry queen ants out of the country or even across state line.
 
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