Camponotus wasmanii mutilarius (Sweet Aroma Ant)

Camponotus wasmanii mutilarius (Sweet Aroma Ant)

This hairy variety of carpenter ant originates from Asia, particularly tropical habitats of China. It's a very colourful species with hues of red, orange and black throughout its body. 

Like the queens, workers are typically red/orange and black. This species is commonly referred to as Camponotus "xiangban". This Chinese word refers to the sweet aroma produced by incense. In the ant keeping hobby, it's typically called this due to the pleasant smell this ant produces when handled. 

In the wild, nests are often found amongst the forest floor, nesting between shrubs and roots in the soil. Moreover, this is a relatively rare species of ant found in S.East Asia.

They are a slow growing species of ant yet display fairly large levels of aggresion when threatened. 

Due to the tropical nature of their natural environment, these ants are active throughout the year and do not require hibernation.

It is illegal and strictly frowned upon to release any non-native ants into the wild.