Camponotus ligniperda Care Guide: Keeping Europe’s Giant Carpenter Ant
Camponotus ligniperda is one of the largest ants in Europe: a big, glossy carpenter ant with a reddish brown thorax and a black head and gaster. A colony has small minor workers and impressive majors with large heads, so there is always something to watch. It is an easy, forgiving species as long as you give it time. The first years bring only a few workers, but once the colony is stable it starts to grow fast. A great choice for beginners who like large ants and do not mind a slow start.
At a glance
Origin: large parts of Europe, from France and Germany to the east
Difficulty: beginner
Colony structure: one queen per colony
Workers: strongly polymorphic, from minors to big majors
Growth: slow at first, then fast
Colony size: large
Temperature: room temperature, with extra warmth in spring and summer
Humidity: mostly dry, with one slightly moist spot
Winter rest: required
Most important tip: give them time
The biggest queen in Europe
If you are after a really big queen, this is your species. Camponotus ligniperda has the largest queens of all European ants, roughly 16 to 18 mm, and even more impressive when her gaster is full of eggs. Its workers are big too, but the title for the biggest workers goes to another species. In our experience the majors of Camponotus barbaricus from the Mediterranean are even larger and bulkier. So: the biggest queen is a ligniperda, the biggest workers are barbaricus.
Appearance and size
Workers have a reddish brown thorax, often with some red at the base of the gaster, and a black head and gaster that shine in the light. The colony is strongly polymorphic. Minor workers are already medium-sized, roughly 7 to 10 mm, and majors are much larger, with broad heads and strong jaws. Camponotus ligniperda looks a lot like its sister species, Camponotus herculeanus, but it is larger, brighter in colour and has a shinier gaster. Want to know how it compares to other carpenter ants? Read our personal guide to the subgenera of Camponotus.
Where do they live?
Camponotus ligniperda lives in large parts of Europe. In the wild it nests in dead wood, tree stumps and under stones, mostly at sunny, dry forest edges and clearings. Compared with Camponotus herculeanus it prefers warmer and drier places. Mature colonies can spread over several nests in the same area, and now and then they move into the wooden parts of buildings.
Founding a colony
A colony has one queen. After the nuptial flight in late spring or early summer, the queen starts her colony alone and does not need food until the first workers arrive. Leave her undisturbed in her closed test tube in a quiet place. Our test tube guide explains how to set one up.
Growth: give them time
This is the most important tip for this species. The first years are slow and the colony stays small. Do not let that fool you: once the colony is stable, growth speeds up and it can become a large colony with an impressive number of majors. Keep the setup simple and relaxed and let the colony build up at its own pace. The slow first years are normal and do not mean something is wrong.
Temperature and heating
Room temperature is fine for the colony, but in spring and summer they clearly benefit from some extra warmth. A warm spot on one side of the setup speeds up the development of the brood and pupae and boosts growth. Always leave a cooler area so the colony can choose. Keep in mind that the setting on a heat mat is not the temperature inside the nest, so watch where the ants put their brood.
Winter rest
A cool winter rest is required every year. In our experience Camponotus ligniperda slows down early in autumn and also wakes up early in spring. So follow the colony rather than the calendar: when they become less active and stop eating in autumn, it is time to move them somewhere cool. Feed little during the rest, but always provide water.
Humidity and water
Keep the nest mostly dry with one slightly moist spot, and always provide a water source such as a test tube. Avoid a wet nest: condensation, water drops or mould mean it is too wet.
Feeding
Sugar: sugar water or honey water as their main energy source.
Insects: crickets, mealworms or other feeder insects, cut into pieces for a young colony. Freeze wild-caught insects first.
Portions: small portions for a young colony, more once the colony grows. Remove leftovers.
Water: always provide clean water, for example from a test tube.
Read more about feeding in What do ants eat?.
Housing
Founding queen: leave her undisturbed in her closed test tube until the first workers have arrived.
Young colony: keep them in the test tube with a small outworld, such as the All-In-One Test Tube Outworld Small or the Mini Outworld V2. Keep them in this setup until the colony has about 20 workers or more.
Larger colony: from about 20 workers, move them to a dry nest. A Medium Mesh Nest, and later a Large Mesh Nest, works well.
Strong jaws: because they are so large, the majors have strong jaws. Keep that in mind when choosing a nest for a big colony.
Behaviour and calm
Large Camponotus colonies settle best in a quiet place. Avoid moving them often and do not check on them every day. The workers do not sting, but they can bite and spray formic acid when disturbed. In the wild they defend their nest fiercely, and when alarmed they knock on the nest walls with their jaws to warn the rest of the colony. Against other ants they can be very tough, but their bite is nothing to worry about for people.
Is Camponotus ligniperda right for you?
Camponotus ligniperda is a great choice if you like large ants and have some patience. It is easy to care for, forgiving of small mistakes and, once it gets going, grows into an impressive colony with big majors and the largest queen you can find in Europe. Have a look at our Camponotus ligniperda colonies.
Sources
Wikipedia. Camponotus ligniperda.
AntWiki. Camponotus ligniperda.
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