Camponotus are large ants, often active at night. They grow slowly at first, then their needs rise quickly.
Calculate exact amounts for your colony →Based on worker count, brood and temperature. Free, no account.Guidelines for a colony with a moderate amount of brood, at 22–28 °C (72–82 °F):
| WORKERS | PROTEIN | SUGAR / 3–4 DAYS |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (Nanitics) | 1 prey item every 5 days | 1 drop |
| 50 (Small) | 5 prey items every 4 days | 2 drops |
| 150 (Growing) | 16 prey items every 3 days | 7 drops |
| 400 (Established) | 40 prey items every 3 days | 18 drops |
1 prey item = one insect the size of a fruit fly (2–3 mm). A medium cricket (1 cm) is worth about 50 prey items. 1 drop ≈ 0.05 mL.
These are starting points. If food is left after 24 h, give less; if everything disappears fast and the brood grows, give more. The calculator also adjusts for brood and temperature.
Northern and central European species (C. ligniperda, C. vagus): November to March, 5–10 °C. Mediterranean species (C. cruentatus, C. barbaricus): light hibernation December to February, 10–12 °C. Tropical species (C. nicobarensis…) must not be hibernated. North American species such as C. pennsylvanicus need a temperate hibernation too.
No. They dig into wood to nest but do not eat it.
Protein every 3 to 5 days, sugar at all times.
It is typical of the genus: the first year often ends with fewer than 20 workers.