Camponotus sexguttatus

Being polygyne sets this Surinamese carpenter ant apart from most of its relatives: a colony can hold two or more queens, which often makes founding quicker and the early colony more resilient to a setback. It stays active year-round with no hibernation and asks only for stable warmth and higher humidity, so the care routine stays firmly at beginner level. The colony tops out at a comfortable size that does not demand large housing, so it fits easily on a shelf. A friendly, low-stress first carpenter ant with the bonus of a multi-queen nest to watch.

This humidity-loving carpenter ant takes sugary liquids for the workers and insects to support its brood. With more than one queen often laying, a steady supply of protein helps the colony make the most of its faster start.

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

Found this Surinamese ant in a test tube and move it on once the colony grows past roughly thirty to fifty workers. It likes humid conditions, so an Ytong or acrylic nest with a well-hydrated chamber suits it, while the arena keeps airflow to avoid stagnant damp. Colonies stay fairly small, so a compact nest beats a large empty one. Coat the rim with fluon (PTFE), oil, or talc and water, as these are active climbers. ANTonTOP starter kits bring the nest, arena, and barrier together for an easy beginning.

A tropical species that stays active the whole year. Keep the nest at 24-28 °C and the arena at 24-30 °C, with higher humidity than many carpenter ants: nest 60-80% and arena 50-70%. Heat one side only so the ants can move along a temperature gradient. There is no rest period to manage; feed and warm it continuously.

Growth runs at a moderate pace and is often helped along by having more than one queen, with the colony building toward several hundred workers. You receive the queens with their workers and brood, a multi-queen start that tends to be resilient.

• The name sexguttatus means ‘six-spotted’, describing the pale markings on the gaster.
• Unusually for the genus it is polygyne, so a single nest can hold two or more egg-laying queens.
• Carpenter ants hollow out wood and cavities for nesting but do not feed on the wood, unlike termites.
• The genus has no sting and defends itself by spraying formic acid, a Formicinae trait.

Is Camponotus sexguttatus good for beginners?

Yes, it is rated Beginner and needs only steady warmth and humidity.

Does this tropical carpenter ant need a winter rest?

No, it is tropical and active year-round.

Does Camponotus sexguttatus sting or bite?

No, workers have no sting and give only a mild bite.

How big can the colony get?

Several hundred workers.

How large is the queen?

Queens are 11-14 mm, with 4-7 mm workers and 7-10 mm majors; a colony may hold more than one queen.

How fast does it grow?

Moderate, sometimes faster thanks to multiple queens.

What does it eat?

Sugar water or jelly plus insects such as crickets and flies.

Will it arrive alive?

Yes, shipped as queens with workers and brood, with a heat or cool pack, dispatched within 24 h 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.