6 replies to this topic

[RazzCicle767]

I found 7 queens in tree nuts at the park today and I don’t know what they are. I would think they are the same species but there’s three variations. I caught a couple last year but they all died:( I was very new to ant keeping at the time. Anyways here’s the pictures. https://share.icloud...zvmTW63JRSPNh_g

[RazzCicle767]

I also know there is many more on the same tree.
Practically every nut with a hole in it houses a queen.
(Also, their eggs have a reddish tint; possibly from the dust inside the acorn.)

[L.H]

most of them seem to be Camponotus caryae, they could also be the other smaller Camponotus species such as variations of nearcticus or subbarbatus.

[RazzCicle767]

ok, thank you. do you know any keeping strategies? I know that all Camponotus are fully claustral but i don't have any experience with them yet.

 

Thanks!

[RazzCicle767]

also if it helps i found them in galls, not nuts.

[L.H]

For keeping strategies, for now I would keep them in the test tube setup. If you want to, you can give them some honey so they have some extra energy when founding, after that you can just leave them alone until they get workers. Other than that just keep them like any other ant, when they have workers, feed  honey/sugar water and lots of protein. When the colony gets bigger you can move then into a larger nest, preferably wood since they nest in wood naturally. 

Edited by L.H, June 5 2025 - 2:32 PM.

[RazzCicle767]

ok, thank you for your help.