Camponotus postcornutus

The draw here is the look and the caste range. A mature colony runs from small minors around 8.5 mm up to majors near 14.5 mm, all sharing the same red body and black gaster, so a single arena shows off a real size gradient. The majors are the talking point, with blunt horn-like corners at the rear of the head that give the species its name. Workers are active and pugnacious foragers by day, moving across the ground and up any climbing surface you give them. Because this ant is rarely kept, there is little hobby literature specific to it, so care follows established Camponotus practice rather than a dedicated care sheet. That makes it a good fit for an intermediate keeper who already knows how carpenter ants behave and wants a species that stands out.

A typical Camponotus omnivore. The colony needs a steady sugar source for the workers and regular insect protein for the queen and growing brood. Offer carbohydrates continuously and add feeder insects a few times a week.

★★★ readily · ★★ moderately · ★ occasionally · ✗ not eaten

Start the founding queen in a water test tube and leave her undisturbed through the first brood, since she founds claustral and raises the first workers on her own body reserves without feeding. As the colony grows, move it into a gypsum or aerated-concrete nest with chambers sized for a medium to large carpenter ant, paired with a roomy outworld for foraging. Seal every open rim with fluon (PTFE), oil, or a talc-and-water mix and fit a tight, fine-mesh lid, because active workers push at any weak point. ANTonTOP formicaria and starter kits supply a scaled nest, arena and barrier in one ready set.

Keep the active season at 21-27 °C with humidity around 50-70%, offering both a moist zone and a drier corner so the colony can choose. Heat one side of the nest only and leave a cooler side rather than holding the whole setup at a single temperature. This is a species from a region with a real winter, so it does best with a cool rest: drop it to about 15-18 °C for two to three months in the colder part of the year. The diapause supports queen longevity and a natural colony rhythm.

Growth is steady rather than fast, as with most Camponotus. The queen founds claustral, so once the first workers appear the colony builds from there without you needing to feed the queen during founding. Give it time and consistent conditions and it will develop the full caste range, from small minors to the horned majors. What you receive is a laying queen with a group of workers and brood, a complete colony ready to move into its first nest and grow on.

• Camponotus postcornutus was described by John Clark in 1930 from Bungulla, Western Australia, and placed in the subgenus Tanaemyrmex.
• It is endemic to Australia and most common in south-western WA in dry mallee country, with a single paler record from South Australia.
• The name “postcornutus”, meaning “rear-horned”, refers to the blunt horn-like protuberances on the back corners of the major workers’ heads.
• The original describer noted that the workers are very active and pugnacious, foraging on the ground and on tree trunks all day.
• The species is strongly polymorphic, running from roughly 8.5 mm minors up to about 14.5 mm majors, all sharing the same red body and black gaster pattern.

Is Camponotus postcornutus suitable for beginners?

It is rated Intermediate. Care follows standard Camponotus husbandry, so it suits a keeper who already has some carpenter-ant experience rather than a complete first-timer.

Does it need a winter rest?

Yes. A cool diapause at about 15-18 °C for two to three months is recommended, since it comes from a region with a genuine winter.

Does this ant sting?

No. It has no sting. Like other carpenter ants it defends itself by biting and by spraying formic acid, which is harmless to keepers in normal handling.

How big are the workers?

It is polymorphic. Minor workers run about 8.5-10 mm and majors reach 13-14.5 mm, with the majors carrying blunt horn-like corners at the rear of the head.

How large does the colony get?

A firm maximum worker count is not established for this rarely kept species. Expect a typical Camponotus colony that grows steadily under consistent conditions.

What should I feed it?

A constant sugar source such as sugar water or ant nectar, plus feeder insects like crickets, roaches and houseflies a few times a week. It is an omnivore, not a seed eater.

Is it active during the day?

Yes. It is diurnal, and the workers forage actively on the ground and on climbing surfaces through the day.

Will my colony arrive alive?

Yes. You receive a queen with workers and brood, shipped with a heat or cold pack to suit the season and dispatched with tracking under our live-arrival guarantee.

Escape prevention. Coat the inner rim of every open arena with fluon (PTFE), or use talc-and-water or an oil barrier as a backup, and keep a tight, fine-mesh lid on top. Check the barrier regularly, since dust, condensation, and feeding debris break a fluon line over time. Keep tubing connectors tight and seal any gaps in the nest, because active workers will find a weak point.

Keeping reminders. Always offer fresh water and never let the nest dry out completely. Give carbohydrates continuously and live or thawed protein a few times a week, and remove uneaten prey within 24 hours before it moulds. Keep the formicarium out of direct sunlight and away from constant vibration, which stresses the colony.

Before you buy – do not rehouse too early. Have a test-tube setup or a small formicarium with an outworld and a working barrier ready before your colony arrives. A founding colony grows slowly, which is normal. Moving a small colony into a large nest too soon invites mould, mites, and stress. Keep the colony in its test tube on the arena and open up the next chambers only once it fills its current space.

What we ship. Every colony ships with a live-arrival guarantee, backed by our 24h unboxing-video guarantee: if the queen does not arrive alive, we reship free. Parcels travel with DHL, InPost (PL) or EMS, with a heat or cold pack to suit the season, packed discreetly and securely. We ship across the EU and worldwide, with free shipping over the Europe threshold.