Camponotus sylvaticus

Species at a glance

• Origin: the Mediterranean, from the Iberian Peninsula across southern Europe
• Size: queen 14–17 mm; workers 6–12 mm
• Colony: up to 10,000 workers in the wild, usually fewer in captivity
• Difficulty: suitable for beginners

Care conditions

• Temperature: 22–28 °C
• Humidity: 50–70%
• Food: insects 2–3 times a week, diluted honey, syrup or ripe fruit, and clean water. Once the first workers appear, offer sugar first and protein a day later

Hibernation

Essential: 3–4 months at about 10 °C.

Farm and colony growth

Carpenter ants readily live in cork, wood, gypsum or aerated concrete nests. Workers are good climbers and look for gaps, so use a tight lid and an anti-escape barrier on the arena walls. The queen founds the colony alone and does not eat until the first workers appear; the first workers are small, and majors appear once the colony grows.