Camponotus thoracicus

This North African carpenter ant earns its place on size and presence: a mature Algerian colony is seriously imposing, the heavy majors standing out against the smaller workers. It is rated Beginner because hibernation is not required and the temperature range it likes is comfortable, so there is no seasonal rest to time and the keeping stays simple year-round. Adapted to dry country, it suits a drier setup, which makes it forgiving of a keeper who tends to under-mist. A great choice if you want a big, dramatic Camponotus without the complexity that usually comes with one.

This North African carpenter ant lives on sugary liquids day to day and takes insect prey when the brood needs feeding. The large majors make short work of bigger feeder insects once the colony is established.

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

Start this North African ant in a test tube and upgrade once the first workers are out. Coming from dry country, it wants the drier end of the range, so an Ytong, acrylic, or 3D-printed formicarium held mostly dry with one hydrated corner matches it, with a foraging arena attached. No winter rest is needed, so keep it warm and fed through the cooler months. Coat the rim with fluon (PTFE), oil, or talc and water, as these ants climb readily. ANTonTOP formicaria and starter kits fit each stage as it grows.

Hibernation is not required, so keep it warm and fed rather than cooling it down. Hold the nest at 20-26 °C and the arena at 18-26 °C, with humidity on the drier side for this dry-country ant: nest 40-60% and arena 30-50%. Heat one end so the colony can choose its warmth along a gradient, and there is no seasonal rest to time.

Carpenter ants found slowly, then pick up the pace toward up to 3,000 workers, and the large majors make each new caste worth the wait. You receive the queen with her workers and brood, already past the slowest early stage.

• thoracicus refers to the distinctly coloured thorax that stands out against the rest of the body.
• It is a big, strongly polymorphic carpenter ant of North Africa and the Mediterranean fringe.
• Carpenter ants excavate wood and cavities for their nests but do not feed on the wood, unlike termites.
• The genus has no sting and relies on formic acid for defence, a hallmark of the Formicinae.

Is Camponotus thoracicus good for beginners?

Yes. It is rated Beginner thanks to no required hibernation and a comfortable temperature range.

Does Camponotus thoracicus need a winter rest?

No. Hibernation is not required; keep it warm and fed year-round.

Does this North African carpenter ant sting or bite?

No. It has a mild bite and no sting.

How big does the colony get?

Up to 3,000 workers under one queen.

How big are the queen and the majors?

The queen is 16-20 mm, with soldiers at 12-16 mm and workers at 5-11 mm.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly during founding, then steadily, with large majors appearing as it matures.

What does it eat?

Sugar water or nectar plus insects such as crickets and flies; it does not eat seeds.

Will it arrive alive?

Yes. It ships as a queen with workers and brood plus a season-matched heat or cool pack, within 24 hours with tracking.

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.

Keeping reminders. Always offer fresh water and never let the nest dry out completely. Give carbohydrates continuously and protein a few times a week, and remove uneaten insect prey within 24 hours before it moulds. Keep the formicarium out of direct sunlight and away from constant vibration, which stresses a young colony. A water-filled test tube plugged with cotton makes an ideal spare incubator whenever you need one.

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 at first, which is normal. Moving a small colony into a large nest too soon invites mould, mites and stress, and the workers die off one by one. Keep the colony in its open test tube on the arena, plug the nest entrance with cotton, and open up the next chambers only once the colony fills roughly 10-15% of the 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.