Camponotus ligniperdus – Colony with queen and workers

Description

Fourmiculture Charter for Camponotus ligniperdus:
1. Approved breeding by the Veterinary Services, conducted by a specialist with a certificate of competence,
2. Free "Perfect Ant Keeper's Guide" and information sheet provided,
3. Ants guaranteed parasite-free,
4. Health demonstrated by the queen laying eggs and the presence of brood upon shipment,
5. No "boost" (addition of brood or external workers to sell colonies faster),
6. Guaranteed delivery in good health: partial refund in case of worker loss, full refund in case of queen loss (if delivered within 48 hours),
8. Species present in France, non-invasive and not threatened,
9. Colony buyback and costs covered if you wish to part with it (see conditions)
.

Included with your colony: "The Perfect Ant Keeper's Guide"
with over 10 PDF pages to learn about your ants and how to care for them!

A very beautiful and large species that feeds on liquids such as our diluted nutrient powder and small insects. The impressive size of the queen, followed by the increasingly larger workers over time, makes Camponotus ligniperdus very impressive to observe. It is larger than Camponotus herculeanus and is one of the largest ants in Europe.

A lover of wood, it will live without difficulty in most artificial ant farms but will particularly appreciate a nest made of cork or wood. You can offer it wood shavings to help it build its nest. However, be careful of the humidity, which is difficult to manage in this type of ant farm, and of parasites that can develop in an enclosed environment.

A high temperature is necessary for its development (27°C) and Camponotus ligniperdus being more fragile than other species, it is important to take good care of it by minimizing stress (vibrations, too much light, too much space at the beginning etc).

Although often discouraged for beginners, perfect conditions and quality equipment can nevertheless lead to superb results from the first or second year.

Queen size (Camponotus ligniperdus): approximately 15 mm
. Worker size: 6-7 mm. Up to 15 mm for major ants that arrive later in the colony.
Daytime temperature: 27-30°C for optimal development
Nighttime temperature: 19-24°C.
Humidity: Low. Only a small part of the nest should be damp.
Hibernation: 3 months at 8-17°C, possibly shorter. Carefully monitor humidity and continue feeding the ants during this period.
This species is incompatible with frost-protected nests, as with all queen-reared colonies!

Photo 1: © Yvain Samuel. Photos 2 & 3: © Christophe Quintin. Gallery HERE.