Species Profile: Camponotus fragilis

    California is one of the most diverse states in terms of ant species. One of the most unique species native to California is Camponotus fragilis. These ants are known for their distinctive yellow coloration, which is uncommon among the Camponotus species in California. They are one of the fastest growing Camponotus species, and are a great species for beginner and expert antkeepers alike.

Species Name: Camponotus fragilis

Photos:

Camponotus fragilis colony with their first major worker

Difficulty: Beginner

California Distribution: 

    This species is found in abundance throughout the deserts of southern California.

Species Description: 

    This species is one of the few yellow Camponotus species present in California. These ants usually nest under rocks or debris in desert regions. They have colonies that get quite large, with some colonies in captivity having several thousand workers. This species is monogynous, which means there is only one queen in a colony. 

    In captivity, they are some of the fastest growing Camponotus species in California, with colonies as young as a year old reaching several hundreds of workers. One of this species' iconic behaviors is their rapid, jittery movement. They are some of the most active and fast-moving Camponotus I have kept, which makes them quite unique as far as ants in the Camponotus genus go.

    The queens of this species are generally a golden-brown color, however some are more yellow and others are darker. The workers are generally a uniform golden color, but they too can have some darker/lighter accents, especially on the head and gaster (rear section). The major/soldier workers will typically have darker colored heads and gasters, but will still retain the overall golden appearance. The subtle variations between the worker castes in this species make them quite interesting to observe.

Nuptial Flights: 

    In the desert regions where this species resides, ants typically only fly after rains. Camponotus fragilis is no exception, and this species typically has their nuptial flights in the days following summer monsoon rains in the desert. Most of this species' flights occur throughout the months of July and August.

    Queens of this species are easily found during the nights following their nuptial flight. They tend to be searching for a suitable nesting location around and under the sparse desert vegetation. During the day, queens are difficult to find, as they typically find a spot to hide in during daytime hours.

General Care:

    These ants are one of, if not the best beginner ants found in California. They do not require any special care, and are very tolerant which makes them a great choice for anyone looking to start their first ant colony. 

    When first caught, the queens are slightly skittish, but they normally calm down within a few days. I recommend using test tube setups when queens are first caught, and leaving them in a dark, warm (75-80F) place for approximately 6-8 weeks for best founding results. Camponotus fragilis queens are fully claustral, which means that they do not need to be fed before they get their first workers. This species is not too picky about checkups, but I would limit disturbances before first workers to once every two weeks to ensure that the queen is able to found successfully. Additional checkups can put stress on the queen, which can result in cannibalization of the brood. 

    This species has small first batches of workers, typically having no more than five nanitics (first workers). However, once routine feedings begin, colonies start to grow much faster. In my experience, the queens will lay as many eggs as possible with the protein provided to them. For fastest growth, feed every alternate day, providing the ants with an amount of food that they can carry away within an hour. These ants will do just fine with weekly feedings as well, but their growth will not be as rapid.

    For every feeding, both protein and sugars should be provided. These ants should be fed primarily insect protein. They are not very picky about protein sources, and will take meal worms, crickets, roaches and fruit flies. Additionally, they will also consume dried blood worms (typically used as fish food) when re-hydrated. I personally use the Hikari brand of blood worms with great success. I recommend feeding them just as much protein as they can drag into their nest within an hour to avoid molding issues.

    In terms of sugar, these ants accept sugar water, honey, and sliced and peeled organic apples. I also feed mine ByFormica's Sunburst nectar, as well as Perky Pet Brand red hummingbird nectar. When feeding sugars, I recommend providing an amount which the ants will consume in an hour.

    In terms of temperature, these ants are not very picky about how warm they are kept. I have had success raising colonies at room temperature, and I have also had success raising colonies when kept at 80-85F. For fastest growth, I would recommend giving colonies a temperature gradient ranging from 75-80F.

Hibernation:

    Camponotus fragilis is desert-dwelling species, and does not need hibernation. Some keepers of this species will choose to drop temperatures a few degrees during the winter months, but in my experience this is not necessary. Colony growth will slow to some degree in the winter, but it will not halt, and the colony will continue to forage and be active as usual.

Tips:

    This species is a very easy, yet rewarding species to keep, and does not require any special care. Be sure to keep temperatures and conditions stable, and chances are that your colony will be successful.

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