Camponotus cameloides

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Endemic to Brazil's Cerrado region, specifically the Campos Rupestres (rocky grassland) habitat in Minas Gerais. Known from Brasília and Serra do Cipó, most records come from protected areas like the Serra do Cipó National Park ^[1][2]. This is a tropical region with distinct wet and dry seasons.
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed colony structure. Based on typical Camponotus patterns, likely monogyne (single queen colonies), but this has not been documented for this specific species.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, queen measurements not yet documented ^[1].
  • Worker: 4.13-4.77mm total length ^[1]. Workers are very small for a Camponotus species.
  • Colony: Unknown, this is a newly described species with no published colony data.
  • Growth: Unknown, no development data exists for this species.
  • Development: Unconfirmed. No species-specific development data is available. (Temperature will significantly affect development speed.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep around 24-28°C. This species comes from tropical Brazil, so warmth is important. A gentle gradient allowing workers to self-regulate is ideal.
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity around 50-70%. The Campos Rupestres is a relatively dry rocky grassland, so avoid overly damp conditions. Allow the nest to dry partially between waterings.
  • Diapause: No, this is a tropical species from Brazil. No winter dormancy is expected based on its origin.
  • Nesting: Arboreal habits suggest they prefer elevated nest sites. In captivity, a Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster nest with narrow chambers works well. Their tiny size means chambers should be appropriately scaled. Avoid deep soil setups, they prefer enclosed nest spaces.
• Behavior: These are small, relatively docile carpenter ants with arboreal tendencies. Workers forage in vegetation rather than on the ground, so they'll likely explore upward in the outworld. They are not aggressive and pose no threat to keepers. Their tiny size (under 5mm) means escape prevention is critical, they can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. As with other Camponotus, they may tend aphids for honeydew. Like all Formicinae, they lack a functional sting and instead bite and spray formic acid from their acidopore.
• Common Issues: tiny size makes escape likely without fine mesh barriers and tight-fitting lids, newly described species means limited care information, some trial and error expected, arboreal habits may cause them to cluster on vegetation or decorations rather than explore ground-level foraging areas, no published colony data makes growth expectations uncertain, wildfire frequency in the species' native habitat is a conservation concern, wild-caught colonies may be difficult to obtain since the species has a restricted range

Discovery and Taxonomy

Camponotus cameloides was formally described in 2024, making it one of the newest recognized species in the antkeeping hobby ^[1]. It belongs to the dimorphus-group within the subgenus Myrmobrachys, a group of small, often arboreal carpenter ants. The species name comes from the Latin 'camelus' (camel) with the suffix '-oides' meaning 'resembling', a reference to the distinctive camel-hump shape of its mesosoma ^[1]. The type locality is the Serra do Cipó National Park in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where specimens were collected using arboreal pitfall traps placed in vegetation ^[1]. This species is unique within its group due to the relatively wide notopropodeal sulcus (the groove between the mesonotum and propodeum) and the dorsal face of the propodeum being shorter than the mesonotum ^[1]. The branched pilosity (forked hairs) on the mesosoma is the first documented instance of this trait in adult workers of the Camponotini tribe ^[1].

Natural History and Habitat

This species has strongly arboreal habits, nearly all specimens have been collected from vegetation using arboreal sampling methods, with only a single specimen ever collected from the ground ^[1][2]. This suggests they nest in trees or elevated locations and forage in the vegetation rather than on the forest floor. Their distribution is restricted to the Cerrado biome's Campos Rupestres areas, rocky grassland formations in the highlands of Minas Gerais, Brazil ^[1]. The Cerrado has a tropical climate with wet summers and dry winters. Most known records come from protected areas, though increasing wildfire frequency in the region is a conservation concern ^[2]. The species appears to be naturally uncommon, only four specimens were recorded across extensive inventory efforts in Brasília and Serra do Cipó combined ^[1].

Housing and Nest Setup

Given their arboreal nature and tiny size, these ants need appropriately scaled housing. A Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster nest with small, tight chambers works well, avoid large open spaces meant for bigger ants. The nest should have narrow passages scaled to their 4-5mm body size. Since they're arboreal, consider adding vertical structures like twigs, cork bark, or live plants in the outworld for them to explore and forage on. Test tube setups can work for founding colonies, but be prepared to move them to a proper nest once the colony grows. Escape prevention is critical, their tiny size allows them to squeeze through gaps that would hold larger ants. Use fine mesh on any ventilation and ensure all connections are sealed. A small outworld area is fine since these ants stay relatively small as colonies.

Feeding and Diet

Like other Camponotus species, these ants are omnivorous with a preference for sugary liquids. Offer sugar water, honey, or diluted maple syrup as a constant energy source. For protein, provide small insects like fruit flies, pinhead crickets, or small mealworm pieces, appropriately scaled to their tiny size. They may also accept honeydew if you keep aphid colonies, which aligns with their arboreal foraging habits. Feed protein 2-3 times per week and keep sugar sources available at all times. Remove uneaten prey after 24-48 hours to prevent mold.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

As a tropical Brazilian species, Camponotus cameloides needs warmth. Aim for 24-28°C in the nest area, with room temperature (22-25°C) being an acceptable baseline. A heating cable on one side of the nest creates a gradient allowing workers to self-regulate. Place the heating on top of the nest, not underneath, to avoid drying out the nest too quickly. Since they're from a tropical climate, no hibernation or diapause is expected, they remain active year-round if kept warm. Monitor colony activity, if workers cluster near the heated area, increase temperature slightly, if they avoid it, reduce heating. Avoid temperature drops below 20°C for extended periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References