Camponotus nicobarensis Colony with Queen and Workers

Description

Camponotus nicobarensis is covered by the Fourmiculture for our Exotic Ants:
– Non-endangered, non-invasive species, safe for humans,
– Health demonstrated by the queen laying eggs and the presence of brood upon shipment,
– No "boost" (addition of brood or external workers to sell colonies faster),
– Guaranteed healthy delivery: partial refund in case of worker loss, full refund in case of queen loss (if delivered within 48 hours),
– Free breeding guide and health record provided,
– Guaranteed parasite-free,

dispose of it (see conditions).

A beautiful species that we highly recommend for beginners with exotic insects: exceptionally rapid growth, sufficient size for good observation, and very easy to raise without hibernation. French Camponotus ants are prized for their enormous size but often disappoint due to their fragility and slow development. That's why Fourmiculture has selected this Asian species, which combines numerous qualities and makes raising them a true pleasure.

Colonies raised in France from a single queen, as with most of our species.

Camponotus nicobarensis readily accepts sugary liquids, jellies, and fruits, as well as fresh and dehydrated insects. It's common for the worker population to grow from 15 to 100 in just a few months. Over time, increasingly larger workers (the majors or "soldiers") emerge, making the colony particularly valuable. Although relatively unaffected by stress, the workers can sound the alarm by beating their abdomens on the ground to signal their presence.

The health of our exotic bee colonies is ensured by our professional breeding practices and demonstrated by the presence of brood upon shipment. For those who are particularly concerned, we offer a 3-month Success Guarantee which entitles you to a free replacement colony should your queen die within 3 months of receiving your order, regardless of the cause. This guarantee is subject to availability. If the replacement colony is unavailable, only the insurance cost will be refunded.

– Breeding temperature: 27°C during the day, 20-24°C at night
– Hibernation: None. Heat year-round.
– Food: Sugary liquids, insects, organic fruit, jellies, etc. Very easy to feed.
– Humidity requirements: Relatively high; maintain good nest humidity. Provide a water dish if needed.
– Origin: Southeast Asia
– Polygynous: A colony can sometimes contain dozens of queens in the wild. We are aware of captive colonies with over 100 queens.
– Queen size: Approximately 13 mm
– Minor worker size: 6 mm
– Major worker (soldier) size: 12 mm
– Color: Black and yellow/orange bands on the abdomen with the rest of the body black and coppery orange (varies between colonies).
– Estimated maximum lifespan of the queen: 25 years.

Latin name:		Camponotus nicobarensis
Common name:		None
Taxonomy:		Subfamily: Formicinae Genus: Camponotini
Difficulty level:		(1) Easy to raise, with attention to temperature
Distribution:		Southeast Asia
Natural habitat:		Semi-desert, savannah
Number of queens:		Oligogyne, can tolerate several queens in the nest to accelerate development, then they sometimes separate
Queen :		Size: 13–15mm Color: Reddish-brown to copper, varies depending on the exact origin
Female workers:		Size: 6-12mm Color: Copper brown, depending on the exact origin
Soldiers:		Not soldiers in the strict sense, but powerful, high-powered female factory workers
Males:		Size: 10mm Colour: black. Winged.
Food :		Nectar, sweet and protein-rich liquids, fresh and dehydrated insects, fruit
Humidity :		Hunting area: ambient humidity. Nest: High humidity is appreciated in most chambers.
Temperature :		Hunting range: 21–35°C Nest: 24–28°C
Diapause:		No, it can remain heated and active all year round, but a slight break is possible around 15-20°C for 2 months in winter.
Type of natural nest:		It builds its nest in dead wood, bamboo, and old walls.
Type of artificial nest:		Any type of nest is suitable: cork, Plexiglas, stone, terrarium…
Nest size:		Expect rapid growth. A nest of 15x15cm is the minimum to start with.
Substrate:		Cork, sand. Not essential.
Plants:		Lives in contact with tropical plants, in symbiosis with certain trees.
Decoration:		Possible natural setting (dry wood, rocks, sand, branches etc).
Summary :		Camponotus nicobarensis is a species that is primarily nocturnal. It exhibits rapid growth and a high tolerance for all kinds of situations and climates. However, frequent and rich feeding is recommended. A distinctive feature is that it often uses existing cavities to build its nest.
Life cycle:		Swarming:  May to June Foundation: claustral (the queen raises her workers alone) Growth: 28 from egg to worker depending on temperature (rapid!!) Colony size: up to approximately 10,000 workers, the queen can live more than 20 years according to our estimates.
Quantity sold:		1 fertilized queen with brood. Workers as per option.
More information:		- Reference