Hello readers,
This journal will entail the developmental journey of a year old Camponotus noveboracensis colony. Native to North America, this species is colored black and red, and is moderately aggressive. In the wild, they inhabit everything from woodlands (preferably rotting logs) all the way to insulation in peoples' houses. These ants are considered a major pest in most homes infested with ants, and are commonly believed to eat wood (false).
I acquired the queen to this colony last summer in the wilds of Northern Ontario when I by chance found queens under almost everything. Her claustral chamber was found dangerously close to a mature colony of C. pennsylvanicus, which would have meant a most likely guaranteed death to the young C. nov colony. That week I found around 60 queens, along with hundreds of other species like Formica, other Camponotus species, and many Lasius species. By the fall the queen had her small work force of about 30 workers and the relatively large colony was put into hibernation by October.
During the hibernation 4 ants have died, but the great majority have survived.
I have created a concrete nest to put the colony in which has a "state-of-the-art" design for optimum watering and humidity.