Camponotus pseudoirritans

Name: Camponotus pseudoirritans
Origin: East Asia (China, Vietnam)
Queen: approx. 12 – 14 mm
Workers: approx. 6 – 11 mm
Food: Honey water, sugar water, agave syrup, as well as insects (e.g. fruit flies, mosquitoes, small crickets)
Humidity:
Arena: 50 – 70%
Nest: 50 – 70%
Temperature:
Arena: 22 – 29 degrees
Nest: 24 – 26 degrees
Winter Dormancy: No
Nest Type: Ytong, plaster, or high-quality ant farms, alternatively soil nests
Colony Size: up to approx. 2,500 workers (monogynous)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Camponotus pseudoirritans:

Advantages:
A very beginner-friendly carpenter ant species – uncomplicated to keep and active year-round, since no winter dormancy is required.

Disadvantages:
As with most Camponotus species, more space is needed as the colony grows.

Care:
Test tube nest for up to approx. 15 – 20 workers, then a small to medium nest made of acrylic, Ytong, or plaster with an attached outer arena (approx. 15 × 10 cm is sufficient at first).

Feeding:
Offer honey water or sugar water, as well as feeder insects regularly. Founding occurs claustrally, but carbohydrates (e.g. agave syrup) are readily accepted.