- AMERICA ( Both South and North ) :
- Camponotus cf. mus :
Latin Name:Camponotus cf. mus
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Camponotini
Keeping Level:(2) show higher requirements to climate and escape prevention
Distribution:Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay
Habitate:open forestpatches, sandy soil,
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 12-13mm Colour: black, gaster with yellowish-golden pubescence, legs black to reddish brown, thorax bulky
Worker:Size: 6 - 10,5mm Colour: black, gaster with yellowish-golden pubescence, legs black to reddish brown, polymorph
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: - Colour: -
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos, small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 50 - 70% Nestpart: 50 - 80%
Temperature:Arena: 21- 28°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:nest in soil often in stumps
Kind of Formicaria:Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plaster
Formicaria size:Size: M - L
Substrate:Farm: sand-loam, cork Arena: sand-loam
Planting:similar to savanne but also tropical rainforest
Decoration:Roots, Stones, Moss, Twigs
Description:Campontus cf. mus is a beautiful southamerican ant. The black- golden contrast is good contrast on sandy soil or vegetation. They are very active but show only light aggression after disturbance.
Development:matingflight: -
founding: claustral
colonysize: a few 1000 individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
ANTS Species :
Below is a review for ants availble for hobbyists based on www.antstore.net and videos , photos from different sources ..
Camponotus mus
- Atta cephalotes :
Latin Name:Atta cephalotes
Trivialname:Leafcutterant
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Attini
Keeping Level:(3) through their large Space- and Foodrequirements as well as their climateconditions only for experienced antkeepers
Distribution:Southamerica
Habitate:tropical Rainforest
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 30mm Colour: redbrown
Worker:Size: 3 - 16mm Colour: shiny redbrown to amber, polymorph
Soldier:18 - 23mm, good developed heads with wooly hair
Males:Size: 20 - 25mm Colour: shiny amber
Nutrion:a home- grown fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) is cultivated by the workerswith the leaves and flowers of Rosaceae plants and fruits. Specific protein bodies to the fungal hyphae are harvested and fed to queen and brood. The administration ofsugar or honey Water is recommended
potential foodplants are: blackberries, raspberries, roses, boxwood, elderberry, oak, lime-tree, wild wine next to apples, orange, banana, grapes in an emergency also oatflakes
It`s recommended to moisten the leaves before feeding.
The feeding of sumach leaves should be avoided at all costs, as these are toxic to the fungus.
Airhumidity:Arena: 40 - 70% Nestpart: 50 - 80% Garbagechamber: 30 - 40%
Temperature:Arena: 21 - 28°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:nest in soil
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder
Formicaria size:Size: XL !!! with growing of the colony a least 3 Basins for Fungus, Feeding and Garbage !!!
Substrate:Farm: - Arena: Potterclay, Perlite, Humus, Sand-Loam
Planting:-
Decoration:-
Description:After Atta sexdens Atta cephalotes is the most abundant Atta Specie in the tropics. Compared to Atta sexdens they avoid grassland and don`t go inside urband areas.
Development:matingflight: with the first summerrains
founding: claustral with a piece of fungus from the mothercolony which is first fertilized with droppings of the Queen. A Queen can be up to 15 years old.
colonysize: up to 8.000 000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
Atta Cephalotes Colony
Acromyrmex cf. octospinosus :
Latin Name:Acromymex cf. octospinosus
Trivialname:Leafcutterant
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Attini
Keeping Level:(3) through their large Space- and Foodrequirements as well as their climateconditions only for experienced antkeepers
Distribution:Southamerica
Habitat:moderate Rainforest
Colonyform:polygyne
Queen:Size: 12mm Colour: orangebrown
Worker:Size: 5 - 15mm Colour: orangebrown to darkbrown
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 7mm Colour: brown
Nutrition:a home-grown fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) is cultivated by the workerswith the leaves and flowers of Rosaceae plants and fruits. Specific protein bodies to the fungal hyphae are harvested and fed to queen and brood. The administration ofsugar or honey Water is recommended
potential foodplants are: blackberries, raspberries, roses, boxwood, elderberry, oak, lime-tree, wild wine next to apples, orange, banana, grapes in an emergency also oatflakes
It`s recommended to moisten the leaves before feeding.
The feeding of sumach leaves should be avoided at all costs, as these are toxic to the fungus.
Airhumidity:Arena: 40 - 70% Nestpart: 80 - 90% garbagechamber: 30 - 40%
Temperature:Arena: 21 - 28°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:nest in soil
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder
Formicaria size:Size: L - XL !!! with growing of the colony a least 3 Basins for Fungus, Feeding and Garbage !!!
Substrate:Farm: - Arena: Potterclay, Perlite, Humus, Sand-Loam
Planting:-
Decoration:-
Description:Acromyrmex cf. octospinus is a small leafcutterant from South America that cutsflowering plants in the wild.
Unlike Atta they perform long treks to their harvesting areas and need these long walks for optimal development.
Development:matingflight: with the first summerrains
founding: claustral with a piece of fungus from the mothercolony which is first fertilized with droppings of the Queen. A Queen can be between 8 and up to 15 years old.
colonysize: up to 20 000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Acromyrmex cf. octospinosus
- Camponotus substitutus :
Latin Name:Camponotus substitutus
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Camponotini
Keeping Level:(2) shows higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention
Distribution:Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay, Panama, Suriname, Guyana, Uruguay, Frensch Guiana, Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico
Habitat:open and disturbed habitats
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 14 - 16mm Colour: darkbrown to black with yellowish white spots on their gaster, bulky thorax
Worker:Size: 8 - 14mm Colour: darkbrown to black with yellowish white spots on their gaster
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 10mm Colour: black
NutritionHoneywater, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:Nest in soil under stones, sometimes in rotten wood
Kind of Formicaria:Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M - L
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to meadow and savanna
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves,
Description:Striking coloure: Black with transitions to a bright yellow. The Gaster Is black and yellow patterned.
Development:matingflight:
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Acromyrmex cf. octospinosus
Camponotus substitutus
- Crematogaster cf. erecta :
Latin Name:Crematogaster cf. erecta
Trivialname:
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Crematogastrini
Keeping Level:(2) need high attention to escape prevention
Distribution:South America, Central America
Habitat:rainforest
Colonyform:
Queen:Size: ca. 10mm Colour: shiny black
Worker:Size: Colour:
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: - Colour: -
Nutrition:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60%
Temperature:Arena: 20 - 30°C Nestpart: 21 - 28°C
Hibernation:none
Nestform:nesting under bark or in rotten wood
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm-Arena, -Center, Combi, island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: S - M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam humus Arena: Sand-Loam humus
Planting:
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, stones
Description:
Development:matingflight:
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize:
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
- Camponotus spec. from Brazil :
Latin Name:Camponotus spec.
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Camponotini
Keeping Level:(2) easy to keep but with higher requirements to escapeprevention
Distribution:Southamerica, Brazil, Paraguay
Habitat:every suitable habitats from dry twigs to small stems
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 10mm Colour: black
Worker:Size: 5mm Colour: black
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: - Colour: -
NutritionHoneywater, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:Nest in dead wood and hollow twigs, soil nests
Kind of Formicaria:Farm-Arena, -Center, Combi, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to rainforest with leaf litter
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves,
Description:Undetermined species of genus Camponotus from Brazil
Development:matingflight:
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize:
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Camponotus spec
- Atta sexdens :
Latin Name:Atta sexdens
Trivialname:Leafcutterant
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Attini
Keeping Level:(3) through their large Space- and Foodrequirements as well as their climateconditions only for experienced antkeepers
Distribution:Southamerica
Habitat:tropical Rainforest
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 30mm Colour: reddishbrown
Worker:Size: 3 - 16mm Colour: reddishbrown, polymorph
Soldier:18 - 23mm
Males:Size: - Colour: -
Nutrition:fungi which the ants cultivate of plantleaves and fruits.
possible Feedingplants: Blackberry, Raspberry, Roses, Boxtree, Elder, Lime- Tree, Oakleaves, Chestnut, Virginia Creeper, also Appels, Oranges, Bananas, Grapes only without any other food oat flakes.
It`s recommended to moisten the leaves before feeding.
Do not use staghorn sumac leaves because there leaves are toxic for the Fungus.
Airhumidity:Arena: 40 - 70% Nestpart: 70 - 90% Garbagechamber: 30 - 40%
Temperature:Arena: 21 - 28°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:nest in soil
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder
Formicaria size:Size: XL !!! with growing of the colony a least 3 Basins for Fungus, Feeding and Garbage !!!
Substrate:Farm: - Arena: Potterclay, Perlite, Humus, Sand-Loam
Planting:-
Decoration:-
Description:Atta sexdens is one of the most abundant leaf cutter ants of South America and iscommonly found in urban areas. In agriculture, they are often considered pestsbecause of their high demand sheet.
Development:matingflight: with the first summerrains
founding: claustral with a piece fungus from the mothercolony which is first fertilized with droppings of the Queen. A Queen can be up to 15 years old.
colonysize: up to 8.000 000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Atta sexdens's colony
- Crematogaster spec. (brown) from Southamerica :
Latin Name:Crematogaster spec. (brown)
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Crematogastrini
Keeping Level:(2) has higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention
Distribution:Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guayana
Habitat:savanna
Colonyform:polygyne
Queen:Size: 6mm Colour: Head/ Thorax beige, Gaster darkbrown, bulky thorax
Worker:Size: 3mm Colour: Head/Thorax beige, Gaster darkbrown
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: - Colour: -
NutritionHoneywater, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:Build their nest in dead wood and under bark
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M - L
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam, cork Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to rainforest
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves,
Description:this ants are very active with a high need for food. They build large colonies in dead twigs or under bark.
Development:matingflight:
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
crematogaster spec. eating a mouse 1
- Odontomachus opaciventris (trap-jaw) :
Latin Name:Odontomachus opaciventris
Trivialname:Trapjaw ants
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Ponerinae Tribe: Ponerini
Keeping Level:(2) show higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention
Distribution:Southern Mexico to Colombia
Habitat:rainforest up to 2000m
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 12 mm Colour: shiny black
Worker:Size: 10 - 11mm Colour: shiny black
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: - Colour: -
Nutritionliving insects like fruit flies,spring tails, mealworm and sugar-, or honey water
Airhumidity:Arena: 50 - 70% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 21 - 30°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:nest in dead and rotten wood
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M - XL
Substrate:Farm: cork, softwood Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to tropical rainforest with different epiphyts and an extensive leaf litter
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves
Description:This is small Odontomachus from Southamerica. They are specalised on carrion and with other antsspecies like Ectatomma ruidum important for reducing carrion on Forestground. They use their mandibles as a trap for small insects thats while they they recieved the name trapjaw ants. Thats one of the fastest movements in the animalkingdom.
Development:matingflight:
founding: semiclaustral (with feeding)
colonysize: up to 200 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Odontomachus opaciventris gyne
- Camponotus atriceps :
Latin Name:Camponotus atriceps
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Camponotini
Keeping Level:(2) shows higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention
Distribution:Brazil,
Habitat:
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: ca. 15mm Colour: head and thorax darkbrown, gaster yellowish-lightbrown
Worker:Size: Colour:
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: Colour:
NutritionHoneywater, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:Nest in soil, under stones, rotten wood
Kind of Formicaria:Farm-arena, Combi, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M - L
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to meadow and savanna
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves,
Description:
Development:matingflight:
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize:
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Camponotus atriceps
- Camponotus cf. substitutus (bright variant) :
Latin Name:Camponotus cf. substitutus (bright variant)
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Camponotini
Keeping Level:(2) shows higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention
Distribution:Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay, Panama, Suriname, Guyana, Uruguay, Frensch Guiana, Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico
Habitat:open and disturbed habitats
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 14 - 16mm Colour: light brown with yellowish white spots on their gaster,
Worker:Size: 8 - 14mm Colour: brown with yellowish white spots on their gaster
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 10mm Colour: black
NutritionHoneywater, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:Nest in soil under stones, sometimes in rotten wood
Kind of Formicaria:Farm-Arena, -Center, -Combi, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M - L
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to meadow and savanna
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves,
Description:Striking coloure: light brown thorax with transitions to a bright yellow. The Gaster Is lightbrown and yellow patterned.
Development:matingflight:
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
My Camponotus substitutus Queen and colony
- Ectatomma ruidum :
Latin Name:Ectatomma ruidum
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Ectatomminae Tribe: Ectatommini
Keeping Level:(2) show higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention
Distribution:Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay, Panama, Suriname, Guyana, Uruguay, Frensch Guiana, Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico
Habitat:tropical rainforest
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 11 - 14mm Colour: castaneous brown, mandibels, legs and antenna reddish- brown, bulky thorax
Worker:Size: 7,3 - 8mm Colour: castaneous brown, mandibels, legs and antenna reddish- brown
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 10mm Colour: black
NutritionHoneywater, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 50 - 70% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 21 - 30°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:Nest in soil
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M - XL
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to rainforest
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves
Description:Ectatomma ruidum is a very ancient specie where the queen lays black eggs. They often follow other Antspecies on there tracks and stole there food. When collecting food on there own they use there potent stinger.
Development:matingflight: October to December
founding: semiclaustral (feeding nessecary) colonyage appr. 9 years, Development: Egg - Larvae approx. 14-16 days, Larvae - Pupae approx.. 14-16 days, Pupae - Imaginae approx. 30 days( always in dependance of Nesttemperature)
colonysize: a few 100 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Ectatomma ruidum vs. glass beads
- Camponotus cf. crassus :
Latin Name:Camponotus cf. crassus
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Camponotini
Keeping Level:(2) easy to keep but with higher requirements to escapeprevention
Distribution:Southamerica, Brazil, Paraguay
Habitat:every suitable habitats from dry twigs to small stems
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 12 - 14mm Colour: black, bulky thorax
Worker:Size: 5 - 10mm Colour: black
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: - Colour: -
NutritionHoneywater, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:no
Nestform:Nest in dead wood and hollow twigs, soil nests
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm-Arena, -Center, Combi, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to rainforest with leaf litter
Decoration:Branches, Roots, leaves,
Description:Very remarkable is the uncommonly downward-showing gaster.
Development:matingflight:
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: approx. 1.000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Camponotus crassus tending a hemipteran aggregation (Ouro Preto)
Ants : introduction , care and vivarium set up ... 1 - 2 - 3
Asia : 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Europe : - Central Europe : 1 - 2 - 3