Camponotus mitis

Description

Camponotus mitis – A fascinating tropical ant species

Camponotus mitis is a unique ant species that is sure to attract the attention of any breeder, whether beginner or experienced. These tropical ants are distinguished by their intense colour contrast and interesting social behaviour that can provide hours of observation. In their society, fascinating caste divisions can be observed, where size differences between workers can be significant, further enriching the experience of keeping them.

The species is mainly native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, making 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 pronounced social and defensive activity.

Detailed description of Camponotus mitis

Camponotus mitis is a species with a wide variation in caste size. Queens reach between 16 and 18 mm in length, while workers measure between 7 and 15 mm, depending on the caste. They have a distinctive, intense colouration – deep black bodies with lighter red-orange accents, making them very striking visually.

These ants are typical ‘bringers’ of water and nectar, and their diet consists of food insects as well as water with honey, so they can easily provide all the nutrients they need. They are easy to rear, provided they are provided with the right heat and humidity conditions.

Advantages of breeding Camponotus mitis

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

Breeding instructions and advice

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

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

Nests suitable for Camponotus mitis

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

Feeding advice for Camponotus mitis

The mainstay of the Camponotus mitis diet is food insects such as dubia cockroaches, crickets and whiteflies. These ants also readily take protein solutions such as water with honey or specialised protein mixtures. Due to their active lifestyle, it is advisable to provide them with food at regular intervals, preferably daily, especially in larger colonies.

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