Meet one of the most beautiful and rewarding starter Camponotus colonies available — Camponotus discolor, a striking red-and-black carpenter ant species known for strong early activity, impressive coloration, and beginner-friendly care.

This complete ant farm kit pairs a young live Camponotus discolor colony with AntopiaUSA’s Desktop Ant Farm system, giving you everything needed to go from unboxing to a clean, functional setup in under 15 minutes. No complicated assembly. No constant misting. No guessing which accessories you still need. Just a properly started colony and a habitat built for long-term success.

Your live colony includes one mated Camponotus discolor queen, 1–5 workers, and brood, giving you a stronger head start than a queen-only setup while still letting you experience the early growth stages of a young colony.

Camponotus discolor is especially loved for its bold red and black coloration, strong foraging behavior, and faster establishment compared with many other Camponotus species. This makes it a great choice for new ant keepers who want something visually exciting, but still manageable.

What’s Included

• Live Camponotus discolor colony

• 1 mated queen + 1–5 workers + brood

• AntopiaUSA Desktop Ant Farm

• Nest frame

• Outworld

• Vinyl tubing

• Test tubes

• Heat cable

• Fluon escape barrier

• Every kit ships with a 90-Day Carb & Water Maintenance Pack already placed inside your outworld — two pre-filled test tubes loaded with Red Ant Drank and pure RO water, both sealed with a moisture-barrier cotton plug your ants can drink through effortlessly. Remove the packing paper, unbox your kit, and your colony's nutrition is already handled for the next 90 days. No setup required

• Tweezers

• Feeding dish

• Decorative plant

• Illustrated setup instructions

• Free support from AntopiaUSA if you need help during setup or transfer

Why Camponotus discolor?

Camponotus discolor is a standout species for keepers who want a beginner-friendly colony with a premium look. Workers show beautiful red and black coloration, and early colonies are known for active foraging once established.

Unlike a queen-only listing, this kit includes a small started colony with workers and brood, which gives beginners a more exciting and confidence-building start.

Important Identification Note

Camponotus discolor and Camponotus decipiens can look extremely similar. Your queen has been identified using collection data and visible traits such as malar hair presence. While the pictured queen may resemble Camponotus decipiens, the colony you receive is listed as Camponotus discolor based on AntopiaUSA’s identification process. Either species is cared for the same way and can grow into an impressive colony.

Shipping & Live Arrival

All live ants ship from AntopiaUSA in Dalhart, Texas. Each colony leaves healthy and properly packed for safe arrival.

This kit includes a Live Arrival Guarantee when someone is present to receive the package and shipping eligibility is met.

Your colony ships in a secure, flood-resistant transit setup, and the kit includes the equipment needed to support the colony after arrival.

Approved Shipping States

Camponotus discolor may only be shipped to the following states:

Alabama · Arkansas · Georgia · Indiana · Kansas · Louisiana · Michigan · Mississippi · Missouri · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · South Carolina · Texas

Orders placed from outside the approved states will be canceled and refunded minus a 15% processing fee to cover handling and administrative costs, as outlined in our policy. Alternatively, we can also swap out the ant species you ordered with one we can legally ship to your state at our full discretion.