4 replies to this topic

[billsants]

Title:
1. Denver Colorado 5PM MST is when I found the ant.
2. May 13, 2025

Body:
1. I found the ant walking on pavement in my garden it was by itself. It was about 5PM and I saw the ant looking for cracks in my pavement.

2. Collected May 13, 2025 

 

3. Habitat of collection: Garden- (Colorado) 

4. 8-10 mm. 

5. Black body & head - with reddish dark brown legs and 3 lines on the thorax. Smooth body, velvet on the abdomen. Body is shiny. On thorax looks like 2 areas where the wings would have been before shedding

6. Thorax has a few bumps, thorax also looks like it had wings, head has unique mark on the top (see picture). Mandibles appear normal.

7. Behavior: Likes to hide in rocks. 

8. Unsure where nest is.

 

9. Nuptial flight time: Unsure

 

I am brand new to ant keeping - I will be purchasing a test tube chamber if this is proved to be a viable queen. 
 

Attached Images

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[Izzy]

Camponotus modoc queen is my guess. Usually the red legs is the give away.

[billsants]

Thank you for the info Izzy! Would you recommend this as a starter ant colony or should I release her? 

[bmb1bee]

Camponotus are pretty easy to start with. Just house her in the standard test tube setup plugged with cotton and leave her there for around a month. The less disturbances and vibrations, the better.

[billsants]

Awesome thank you bmb1bee. I ordered test tubes should get here in a couple days. Is she okay to stay in that current jar till then? I assume make sure she has some water (soaked cotton balls) and some air holes and don’t mess with her.