Camponotus herculeanus (Hercules Carpenter Ant) is one of Canada’s largest native ant species, found across boreal and mixed forests from coast to coast. Known for its impressive size and deep reddish-brown and black coloration, this species nests in decayed or softened wood and plays an important role in forest ecosystems.
Queens typically measure 14–18 mm, with workers ranging from 6–13 mm, making them highly visible and fascinating to observe. Colonies grow slowly but live for many years, often developing into large, long-lived nests with distinct worker castes and a stable social structure.
In captivity, C. herculeanus does best in cool-to-moderate conditions with access to both dry and slightly humid micro-zones. While this species is naturally adapted to cooler climates, providing a gentle heat gradient (e.g., a warm spot near one end of the nest) can support brood development during active months. Avoid full-nest heating, as overexposure may cause stress. They readily accept sugars and protein, making them manageable for patient beginners and rewarding for experienced keepers.
C. herculeanus adapts well to test tube setups during founding stages and later to larger formicaria. Although Camponotus species can regulate humidity within their nest to some extent, they require a gradient of moisture levels to do so effectively. Avoid overwatering — providing only partial hydration allows the ants to add humidity where needed, while still being able to dry out areas through airflow and nest behavior.
Queens start new nests individually, with colonies typically monogynous and producing sexuals in late summer that overwinter in the natal nest before swarming in spring
All photos in our gallery were taken in-house with our professional macro setup to highlight the fine details of each specimen.
Every queen (or starter colony) ships in a pre-assembled test-tube setup. Components are listed in the “Included Queen Test Tube Setup” info section. For the full breakdown of all options and why we use them, see "Test Tube Components Explained".
Live ants ONLY SHIP within CANADA.
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