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Camponotus discolor


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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Tai_pan1 - Posted July 1 2022 - 11:33 AM

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Are they polymorphic?  I can’t seem to find an answer on ant wiki or mem.  I have two newly hatched discolor that look larger than their sisters.


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#2 Offline FloridaAnts - Posted July 1 2022 - 12:56 PM

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Are they polymorphic?  I can’t seem to find an answer on ant wiki or mem.  I have two newly hatched discolor that look larger than their sisters.


Pretty positive they are. Think of them as mini C. Floridanus
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#3 Offline Tai_pan1 - Posted July 5 2022 - 1:45 PM

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To answer my own question, YES!  I have some photos, but I can’t upload.  My first majors…..so exciting.


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#4 Offline FloridaAnts - Posted July 5 2022 - 5:44 PM

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Just wait until you have 20-50 majors. That’s when they really get big.

Edited by FloridaAnts, July 5 2022 - 5:44 PM.

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#5 Offline futurebird - Posted July 6 2022 - 3:33 AM

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Absolutely. Here is a video of my colony showing how they grow over one year. 
https://www.tiktok.c..._from_webapp=v1

You will see majors once they get to about 25 workers. 


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Starting this July I'm posting videos of my ants every week on youTube.

I like to make relaxing videos that capture the joy of watching ants.

If that sounds like your kind of thing... follow me >here<


#6 Offline Tai_pan1 - Posted July 6 2022 - 12:28 PM

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Absolutely. Here is a video of my colony showing how they grow over one year. 
https://www.tiktok.c..._from_webapp=v1

You will see majors once they get to about 25 workers. 

Nice!  How do you like the Antcube with the cork?  Did it mold at all?  Do you do anything for humidity?  I love the C discolor.  I started with the queen and 4 workers.  Now have about 30 workers, 2 majors and a bunch of brood.  Trying to do some long term planning on their future home, and Antcube is on the list.


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#7 Offline futurebird - Posted July 6 2022 - 12:42 PM

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My Camponotus discolor colony seems to like the cork, but after 7 months it has a few dark spots. I'm going to look into making my own wooden insert, as wood stays much cleaner.  But I think they will be able to stay in the cork over the winter... by next spring or next summer they will need either fresh cork, or a new nest. 

I never wet the cork, they don't need it. Once there are more than 100 of them all you need to do is provide water in a reliable water feeder at all times and there is no need to hydrate their nest since there are enough ants to keep it as moist as they want and keep each other hydrated.

The cork has been very healthy for them, but it obviously won't last forever. Plan on it lasting about a year maybe a year and a half tops. They will simply chew it up and stain it with time. If I can't manufacture my own wood insert I will buy another cork one.

They chew the cork and added their own creative tunnels. It's pretty neat to watch...  but they put all the cork dust in the outworld and it's a little annoying to clean. Another option is to simply fill the gap with a SOLID piece of cork and let them dig their own nest. They love to dig next to the glass so seeing them would not be an issue, it'd be neat to see what they "designed" ...



Sorry for the complex answer but there are a lot of things to like about cork (ants love it) and a few I don't like as much. (needs to be replaced on the regular.)

Shockingly carpenter ants seem to do best in wood. They can't chew hardwood, but the moisture levels are perfect and they keep it very clean. A glass ANTCUBE out world and some kind of wooden nest is ideal IMO. 


  • FloridaAnts likes this

Starting this July I'm posting videos of my ants every week on youTube.

I like to make relaxing videos that capture the joy of watching ants.

If that sounds like your kind of thing... follow me >here<


#8 Offline FloridaAnts - Posted July 6 2022 - 1:55 PM

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My Camponotus discolor colony seems to like the cork, but after 7 months it has a few dark spots. I'm going to look into making my own wooden insert, as wood stays much cleaner.  But I think they will be able to stay in the cork over the winter... by next spring or next summer they will need either fresh cork, or a new nest. 
I never wet the cork, they don't need it. Once there are more than 100 of them all you need to do is provide water in a reliable water feeder at all times and there is no need to hydrate their nest since there are enough ants to keep it as moist as they want and keep each other hydrated.
The cork has been very healthy for them, but it obviously won't last forever. Plan on it lasting about a year maybe a year and a half tops. They will simply chew it up and stain it with time. If I can't manufacture my own wood insert I will buy another cork one.

They chew the cork and added their own creative tunnels. It's pretty neat to watch...  but they put all the cork dust in the outworld and it's a little annoying to clean. Another option is to simply fill the gap with a SOLID piece of cork and let them dig their own nest. They love to dig next to the glass so seeing them would not be an issue, it'd be neat to see what they "designed" ...
Sorry for the complex answer but there are a lot of things to like about cork (ants love it) and a few I don't like as much. (needs to be replaced on the regular.)
Shockingly carpenter ants seem to do best in wood. They can't chew hardwood, but the moisture levels are perfect and they keep it very clean. A glass ANTCUBE out world and some kind of wooden nest is ideal IMO.


I have heard finished wood molds less, maybe try that with your next insert. My Discolor queen I found never laid eggs, and still has wings. Time will tell if she is fertile




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