Black Legged Sugar Ants (Camponotus ocreatus)

General: Camponotus ocreatus is a large, beautiful orange and black carpenter ant from the southwest. These ants get large, bicolored majors.

Diet: These ants prefer to eat liquid sugars and proteins. They will still consume ‘solid’ protein, but bug guts are a favorite. Make sure to feed LOTS of sugars.

Temperature: These ants require heating. Their nest should ideally be between 86-90, but provide a heating gradient if possible. Camponotus ocreatus will not grow at room temperature.

Diapause: C. ocreatus might need a short, 1-2 month diapause period. If your colony begins to slow down, then take them off of heat for a short time and feed less protein. Make sure they are still fed, however.

Growth: Brood development takes 8-10 weeks depending on heating and caste. The majors tend to take longer to develop. Colonies can reach over 100 workers within the first year if fed lots and heated correctly.

Queen size: 16-18mm

Worker size: 7-9mm

Major size: 10-15mm

If ants arrive in bad condition, contact us for help. Live arrival is guaranteed.