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Camponotus Irritabilis - New World Hunter

Camponotus Irritabilis- Intermediate Species

 

Camponotus Irritabilis is like no other carpenter ant (we say this but they are congener to Fermoratus). However, they are simply stunning. Large in size they have a striking colouration and an appearance that will fill your collection with beauty.

 

Do not be fooled however. They are known as being one of the worlds most aggressive ant species!

 

With large mandibles, they can easily break through skin or grind a small bone. Alongside this they use a potent spray of formic acid to break down flesh in the cuts they are creating with jaws. This is rather painful with the aggressor, however, irritabilis stay in groups and they do this in a pack mentality.

 

There is a facinating trait about them though, they are arboreal. Irritabilis will carefully select specific seeds to carry to their "planting zone", from there they will allow the seeds to geminate and grow around the branch. Excavating the middle of the roots they build chambers within the root structure to house their nest. It creates a moist zone where humidity and moisutre is trapped. The main plant used to fertalise these systems is Hoya Elliptica.

 

Despite being the most aggressive species, they also seem to cooperate well. Their nests are often found with co-habiting colonies of parabiotic crematogaster and lestobiotic solenopsis

 

Colony Size

Up to 1,000 - 3,000 workers

Queen

Age - Up to 12 years

Fully Claustral - No food until first workers

Monogyne (single Queen per colony)

Temperature & Humidity

Nest: 27 to 28 degrees | 21 to 30 degrees in Outworld

50% to 70% in Nest | 30% to 60% in Outworld

Hibernation

No

Polymorphic (Different size casts)

Yes - Very polymorphic with Minor, Media and Major workers.

Sting | Bite

Formic Acid | Majors can bite and break skin with ease

Diet

Protein, Lots of Sugars, Lots of Water

Nest Type

Natural, Acrylic, Sand, Earth, Glass,, Ytong

Size

Queen - 18mm-20mm

Worker - 6mm-8mm

Major - 10mm to 17mm

Camponotus Irritabilis - New World Hunter

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