Camponotus aethiops
Camponotus aethiops
- Level: Para empezar
- Hibernation: Yes (Noviembre-marzo (aprox.))
Requires hibernation — not suitable if you can't lower the temperature in winter.
Pickup available at Antmaster
Usually ready in 24 hours
Live animal shipping
- Shipped Mondays and Tuesdays
- We hold the shipment if your area drops below 5 °C or goes above 30 °C. We'll let you know beforehand.
At no extra cost. We'll message you before shipping.
Live arrival guarantee
If the colony arrives dead, we'll replace it or refund you. Here are the full terms, right here.
- Claim window
- 48 hours from delivery
- Proof required
- Photos or video of the unopened package and its contents as they arrive.
- What's covered
- The queen, always. Workers, if more than 20% arrive dead.
- What we do
- Replacement on the next available shipment or a refund. You choose.
- What voids it
- A package left outside or not collected after the delivery notice.
Releasing ants into the wild is prohibited. In Spain this is a punishable offense under nature conservation and invasive alien species regulations.
Camponotus aethiops
A large, sturdy black ant, slow-growing and very rewarding to watch. It copes well with indoor keeping.
Pick the format above:
- Queen: fertilised queen with eggs, larvae and pupae. The start is slow, as with every Camponotus, but the colony ends up spectacular.
- Colony: queen and workers already active. You skip the most delicate early months.
Mixed diet: animal protein and sugary liquids. Needs to hibernate in winter.
Before you buy: have the setup ready before she arrives. This is a slow-growing species: do not expect a large colony in the first year.
Species profile
Identificación
- Nombre científico
- Camponotus aethiops (Latreille, 1798)
- Subfamilia
- Formicinae
- Distribución
- Sur de Europa hasta el Cáucaso; presencia confirmada en España, Francia, Suiza, Italia y otras zonas mediterráneas y balcánicas
- Forma de colonia
- Monoginia
Tamaño
- Reina (mm)
- 13.5
- Obrera (mm)
- 5-12 mm (menores 5-8 mm, mayores 10-12 mm)
- Polimorfismo
- Sí
- Casta soldado
- Sí
Condiciones
- Temperatura del nido (°C)
- 21-25 °C
- Temperatura del área de forrajeo (°C)
- 18-28 °C
- Humedad del nido (%)
- 50-60%
- Humedad del área de forrajeo (%)
- 30-50%
Ciclo
- Hibernación
- Sí
- Ventana de hibernación
- Noviembre-marzo (aprox.)
- Temperatura de hibernación (°C)
- 12-15 °C
- Tipo de fundación
- Claustral
- Época de vuelo nupcial
- Verano, aprox. junio-agosto
Desarrollo
- Velocidad de crecimiento
- Media
- Tamaño máximo de la colonia
- Algunos cientos de obreras
- Longevidad de la colonia
- Reinas hasta unos 15 años (fuente de aficionados, no paper científico; usar con cautela)
- Dieta
- Insectos, Azúcares y melaza
Estado legal en España: Nativa
Actual size
- Moneda de 1 €
- 23,25 mm
- Reina
- 13,5 mm
Scale comparison. The queen is the largest individual in the colony.
How does the colony travel?
The colony travels in its test tube with a water reservoir. We ship on Mondays and Tuesdays so the package doesn't spend the weekend in a warehouse.
What if it's very cold or very hot?
We hold the shipment while your area is below 5 °C or above 30 °C, and we'll let you know beforehand. You can also request this yourself by checking “Hold my shipment until the weather is safe” when adding to cart.
What happens if it arrives dead?
Message us within 48 hours of delivery with photos or a video of the unopened package and its contents. We'll replace the colony on the next available shipment or refund you: you choose.
Can I release the ants into the wild if I give up the hobby?
No. Releasing ants into the wild is prohibited and constitutes a punishable offence under Spanish nature conservation and invasive alien species regulations. Message us and we'll help you find a responsible solution.