Camponotus mitis

Description

Camponotus mitis – A fascinating tropical ant species

Camponotus mitis is a unique species of ant that is sure to attract the attention of every breeder, both novice and experienced. These tropical ants are distinguished by their intense colour contrast and interesting social behaviour, which can provide many hours of observation. Their society has a fascinating caste system, where the size differences between workers can be significant, which further enriches the experience of keeping them.

This species originates mainly from the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, which makes Camponotus mitis ants perfectly adapted to humid, warm conditions. These ants are characterised by aggressive defence of their nest and territory, which makes breeding them particularly interesting, especially if you are looking for a species with distinct social and defensive behaviour.

Detailed description of Camponotus mitis

Camponotus mitis is a species with a wide range of caste sizes. Queens reach 16 to 18 mm in length, while workers measure 7 to 15 mm, depending on the caste. They have distinctive, intense colouring – deep black bodies with lighter red-orange accents, which makes them very visually striking.

These ants are typical water and nectar carriers, and their diet consists of feed insects as well as honey water, making it easy to provide them with all the nutrients they need. They are easy to breed, provided they are kept in the right temperature and humidity conditions.

Advantages of breeding Camponotus mitis

• Visible caste polymorphism – differences in size between individual workers make this species extremely interesting to observe.
• Aesthetics of the species – the contrasting colouring of these ants makes them visually striking, ideal for breeding by both beginners and advanced enthusiasts.
• Aggressive defensive behaviour – their intense defence of their colony and territory provides plenty of excitement when observing them.
• Ease of feeding – a diet based on feed insects, nectar and honey water makes them relatively easy to feed.

Breeding instructions and advice

To ensure optimal breeding conditions for Camponotus mitis, it is recommended to maintain a temperature between 24 and 28°C. Humidity should be 50-60% in the arena, and it is advisable to maintain higher humidity in the nest, around 70%. Due to their tropical origin, it is necessary to ensure adequate air circulation to prevent excessive moisture and mould growth.

The formicarium for this species should be spacious, due to their size and activity. Nests with good ventilation and easy humidity monitoring are recommended. A combination of an arena and a nest may be the ideal solution – in this case, our formicaria from the Combo M series, such as the Formicarium Combo S, which can be adapted to the growth of the colony thanks to its modular design, will work well.

Nests suitable for Camponotus mitis

Due to their size and humidity requirements, Camponotus mitis prefer nests with good moisture levels, such as 3D formicaria, cork or plaster formicaria with an irrigation system. We recommend formicaria from the Combo M series, which offer enough space for a growing colony.

Feeding advice for Camponotus mitis

The basis of the Camponotus mitis diet consists of feed insects such as dubia roaches, crickets, and mealworms. These ants also eagerly consume protein solutions such as honey water or specialised protein mixtures. Due to their active lifestyle, it is advisable to feed them at regular intervals, preferably daily, especially in larger colonies.

If you are looking for ants with striking appearance and interesting behaviour, Camponotus mitis is the perfect choice! Ideal for breeders of all levels, they provide plenty of excitement thanks to their size, colouring and defensive behaviour. Start your adventure with the tropical world of ants now by choosing Camponotus mitis in our shop!