★★★☆☆ Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Camponotus nigriceps is a large and striking Australian carpenter ant, well known for its contrasting black head and thorax with reddish-orange colouring on the body. This species is an active and impressive display ant, with workers that readily explore their surroundings and forage for food.
Suitable for keepers with some ant-keeping experience. Camponotus nigriceps is generally hardy once established but benefits from stable temperatures, good ventilation, and consistent access to food.
Colony Founding Type: Claustral
Temperature: 23–28°C
Humidity: Moderate (40–60% with access to a humid nesting area)
Housing: Test tube until approximately 30–50 workers, then move into a suitable formicarium.
Substrate: Sand, soil, bark, or a naturalistic setup.
Diet: Sugars (sugar water or honey water) and protein sources such as mealworms, crickets, flies, and other feeder insects.
Colony Growth: Moderate
Worker Size: Approximately 6–12 mm
Queen Size: Approximately 15–18 mm
Ideal For: Intermediate keepers wanting a large, attractive Australian carpenter ant.
Royal Ants is committed to providing healthy, high-quality ant colonies and queens to hobbyists and collectors. All queens are carefully inspected and shipped in optimal condition to ensure their wellbeing during transit. We guarantee that every queen is alive and in excellent health at the time of dispatch. In the unlikely event a queen arrives deceased, a refund will be issued upon receipt of clear photographic evidence on the day of delivery.
★★★☆☆ Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Camponotus nigriceps is a large and striking Australian carpenter ant, well known for its contrasting black head and thorax with reddish-orange colouring on the body. This species is an active and impressive display ant, with workers that readily explore their surroundings and forage for food.
Suitable for keepers with some ant-keeping experience. Camponotus nigriceps is generally hardy once established but benefits from stable temperatures, good ventilation, and consistent access to food.
Colony Founding Type: Claustral
Temperature: 23–28°C
Humidity: Moderate (40–60% with access to a humid nesting area)
Housing: Test tube until approximately 30–50 workers, then move into a suitable formicarium.
Substrate: Sand, soil, bark, or a naturalistic setup.
Diet: Sugars (sugar water or honey water) and protein sources such as mealworms, crickets, flies, and other feeder insects.
Colony Growth: Moderate
Worker Size: Approximately 6–12 mm
Queen Size: Approximately 15–18 mm
Ideal For: Intermediate keepers wanting a large, attractive Australian carpenter ant.
Royal Ants is committed to providing healthy, high-quality ant colonies and queens to hobbyists and collectors. All queens are carefully inspected and shipped in optimal condition to ensure their wellbeing during transit. We guarantee that every queen is alive and in excellent health at the time of dispatch. In the unlikely event a queen arrives deceased, a refund will be issued upon receipt of clear photographic evidence on the day of delivery.