19 replies to this topic

[Acutus]

Went hunting for Queens last night and came across this beauty! Pretty sure it's Camponotus pensylvannicus but wanted to ask the experts. Anne Arundel County Maryland USA she is around 16-17mm long

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Camponotus pennslyvanicus! Very beautiful ants. They grow really slowly though.

[Acutus]

Camponotus pennslyvanicus! Very beautiful ants. They grow really slowly though.

 

Thanks for the reply!! Slow is OK I got time!

[Kaelwizard]

Nice! I don't keep these because of the risk of them escaping and destroying my house.

[iamAntMan]

Hello Acutus,

 

I am living in Howard County which is very close to Anne Arundel. Do you live in Maryland? Please contact me because I don't really know of any ant keepers in my area to be honest.

[YsTheAnt]

These can grow pretty fast IF you keep them warm, 80-85F and feed them a lot of protein and sugar.

[Acutus]

Hello Acutus,

 

I am living in Howard County which is very close to Anne Arundel. Do you live in Maryland? Please contact me because I don't really know of any ant keepers in my area to be honest.

Sent a PM

[Acutus]

These can grow pretty fast IF you keep them warm, 80-85F and feed them a lot of protein and sugar.

Been thinking of adding a heating cable to the formicarium. the Ants Canada nest has a place to run it through.

[ANTdrew]

If at all possible, I would avoid heat cables with test tubes. It's just more trouble than it's worth. Your queen should be fine in a warm room.

[TennesseeAnts]

He's heating the absolutely massive colony in the AC hybrid nest.

[Acutus]

Mistake Sorry

Edited by Acutus, April 25 2019 - 2:00 PM.

[Acutus]

If at all possible, I would avoid heat cables with test tubes. It's just more trouble than it's worth. Your queen should be fine in a warm room.

Yeah sorry when heat was mentioned I was thinking my full colony. My reply was confusing.

[YsTheAnt]

Test tubes work great with heat cables, if positioned properly. You want to have the cable just barely running underneath the exit cotton, NOT the water portion.

[VoidElecent]

Nice! I don't keep these because of the risk of them escaping and destroying my house.

 

I can assure you that if you keep a colony of Carpenter Ants, they will not escape and "destroy your house". Camponotus colonies will only nest in wood if it is already rotten, so as long as your house is in acceptable condition and not falling apart, you should be fine.

[Mettcollsuss]

These can grow pretty fast IF you keep them warm, 80-85F and feed them a lot of protein and sugar.

Yup, mine have been growing very fast. Just keep them heated and home them lots of food.

[Mettcollsuss]

Nice! I don't keep these because of the risk of them escaping and destroying my house.

 
I can assure you that if you keep a colony of Carpenter Ants, they will not escape and "destroy your house". Camponotus colonies will only nest in wood if it is already rotten, so as long as your house is in acceptable condition and not falling apart, you should be fine.

This is exactly what I constantly try to tell my parents.

[Acutus]

Test tubes work great with heat cables, if positioned properly. You want to have the cable just barely running underneath the exit cotton, NOT the water portion.

 

 

 

These can grow pretty fast IF you keep them warm, 80-85F and feed them a lot of protein and sugar.

Yup, mine have been growing very fast. Just keep them heated and home them lots of food.

 

 

Thanks for the tips guys!! any suggestion on type of heating cable?

[Acutus]

So it has been 4 days since this queen was captured. no eggs yet but picking cotton feverishly  lol. How long does it usually take to lay eggs? Also am I correct in saying there is no need to feed her?

[rbarreto]

You just need to leave her alone and not check on her for a while. She won't need to be fed until you have about 5-10 workers.

[Acutus]

You just need to leave her alone and not check on her for a while. She won't need to be fed until you have about 5-10 workers.

 

Thanks! I just wanna be sure I'm doing things right!