Camponotus barbaricus

Sometimes, but expect a long and risky process. One keeper whose queen died during the winter of 2026 placed a new queen behind a mesh in a small nest inside the colony's outworld, then joined her with pupae and single workers step by step. After more than six months the workers accepted and fed her, although she attacked workers on the way and killed a major. Spanish keepers stress that their Camponotus are strictly monogynous and aggressive when threatened, so most keepers see it as a long shot.

Later than most people expect. In the best-documented colony the first small majors showed up at roughly 50 workers in the first summer, majors almost as big as the queen followed within the first year, and the very largest workers, up to about 18 mm, only appeared in the third year after the colony passed ten thousand workers. A young colony with only small workers is therefore not doing anything wrong.

Camponotus barbaricus workers measure 6–12 mm, with majors up to 16 mm, and the queen measures 16–18 mm.

Just one. Camponotus barbaricus is monogyne: each colony has a single queen, so never put two queens together once the first workers arrive.

No. Camponotus barbaricus has no sting: the workers bite and spray formic acid, which can sting small cuts.

In temperate Europe and the Mediterranean, Camponotus barbaricus usually flies in Jun – Aug. The weather decides the exact days.

Keep the Camponotus barbaricus nest at 25–30 °C, with 40–60 % humidity in the brood chambers.

Not strictly, but it helps. A cooler winter rest at 12–18 °C, roughly during Nov – Feb, keeps Camponotus barbaricus colonies healthy.

Camponotus barbaricus is not on the EU list of invasive alien species and is not protected in the countries we checked. Rules differ between countries and can change, so check your local laws first.