Camponotus festinus eximus (Rare)

Meet Camponotus festinus eximius: Rare Bornean Carpenter Ant!

Why Camponotus festinus eximius?

Camponotus festinus eximius is a large tropical subspecies of the Southeast Asian carpenter ant Camponotus festinus. Bulky queens, polymorphic workers and day-active foraging make a dramatic showpiece colony for keepers who can offer steady warmth.

Rainforest carpenter

The nominate species was described from Sarawak (Smith, 1857). Subspecies eximius was named by Emery (1900). Like other Camponotus, they excavate wood and hollow stems for nest space rather than eating timber, and they take honeydew and insects.

Spelling note

The correct subspecies epithet is eximius (Emery, 1900), not “eximus”. Confirm stock ID against the product name before publish.

Colony:

• Type: Hobby sources list monogyne
• Founding: Claustral
• Mature size: Hobby estimates from a few thousand workers (nominate festinus trade sheets often cite roughly 2,000-4,000)

Queen:

• Size: Hobby reports roughly 19-21 mm
• Colour: Castaneous brown to black; bulky thorax

Workers:

• Size: Hobby reports roughly 7-14 mm overall; majors often listed around 9-16 mm
• Polymorphic: Yes (minor to major continuum)

Development:

• Egg to adult worker: Hobby figure around 8-10 weeks under warm conditions (UNVERIFIED scientifically)

Housing:

• Nest: Hollow stems and rotten wood in nature; ytong, cork, plaster or acrylic with a wood option
• Temperature: Hobby nest targets often around 20-28°C (commonly 24-28°C for nominate stock); outworld warm
• Humidity: Nest moderately humid (hobby often 50-70%); outworld drier

Hibernation:

• Required: No (tropical)

Diet:

• Primary: Honey water or nectar substitutes plus insects

Interaction:

• Sting: No (Formicinae; formic acid)
• Bite: Yes; large majors can pinch firmly

Key Stats:

• Queen Size: Estimated: 19-21mm
• Worker Size: Estimated: 7-14mm
• Major Worker Size: Estimated: 9-16mm
• Temperature: Estimated: 24-28°C (Nest); often cited 20-28°C
• Humidity: Estimated: 50-70%
• Diet: Sugars & Insects
• Colony Size: Estimated: 2,000-4,000 mature workers
• Diapause: No true diapause; keep warm year-round (tropical)

Ready for a rare tropical giant?

Keep Camponotus festinus eximius warm and humid in the nest, feed sugars and protein, and enjoy one of the more impressive Asian carpenter displays.