Late Summer Anting

For personal reasons this year I decided not to have an official "Ant Together." The short story is that my grandfather unexpectedly passed away during the peak month that we would have had one. I found myself in this odd state of mine where I just wanted to skip everything required of me and not volunteer for certain family obligations... thus it stood to reason that I shouldn't be doing other things either such as holding events.

Though the truth is as much as I like to promote the New Jersey Ant Together as a big annual thing, it's never escaped being a simple hiking trip with like minded individuals. And maybe it should stay as a simple get together in future.

I did manage to get a trip in thanks to my friend Matt coming back for a visit. He's attended every Ant Together I've ever done so it was good to get some in while he was back home. Our hunting ground of choice was the Rancocas Nature Center where we held our first one.

This was not our most productive trip, mostly owing to the fact that I forgot my shovel (Doh!), but we still had fun. Our first visit there five years ago we had come across colonies of Polyergus, Stigmatomma, and Strumigenys which was pretty good for our first time! Polyergus are specialist slave making ants of the common Formica genus, that are only found in certain fields. Stigmatomma are a type of "Dracula Ant" which specializes on hunting down centipedes for food. The term Dracula Ant comes from their habit of feeding on their own larva through non-lethal cutting. Strumigenys are cryptic, often hard to find, specialist on soft bodied arthropods... basically miniature Trap-Jaw Ants. None of which we found on our trip owing to the fact that it was very late in the summer.

Formica incerta, very similar looking to Formica pallidefulva, differing primarily by the amount of facial hair. The two species often live in the same fields together and prefer not so lush lawn or scrub habitats. Colonies tend to be small typically around 2,000 to 10,000 ants. Queen number varies with these two species, I believe because some colonies are in the habit of allowing new queens to return to the nest after mating. The colonies then divide after that. It's likely this behavior came about from the presence of other slave making Formica and Polyergus species, perhaps even becoming more common when these threats are around.

Camponotus pennsylvanicus The Eastern Black Carpenter Ant, is easily identified by its large size, ~8 to 15mm. They are solid black color in color, though sometimes the legs with hue dark brown or red, more so in queens than workers. Also they have large amounts of hair on the gaster (abdomen), that's usually brown or gray in color. Colonies are strictly Monogyne/Oligegyne where they only tolerate one queen at a time; the Oligegyne comes from the fact that occasionally colonies have two egg laying queens in them... this is a temporary situation at best and likely comes from a situation where a new queen was brought back into the nest on accident. The new queen is "safe" as long as she's not in the same satellite nest as the mother queen of the colony. These situations usually resolve themselves each winter when colonies reduce the number of satellite nests retreating into one or two locations.

Crematogaster cf. cerasi. This likely is Crematogaster cerasi from their habit of sometimes building shed-like structures over the aphids and leaf hoppers they tend. Crematogaster species otherwise tend to be difficult to identify because of how similar most of them look and needing to count the number of hairs on parts of the body from multiple workers to get a range. This colony likely only has one queen but grows to be enormous in size. Locally they're known for having extensive foraging trails and satellite nests established basically in any dead wood structure or hollow cavity they can find. Despite this they're not really a structural pest.

The genus Crematogaster is easily identified because their waste segment connects to the upper half of the gaster, where as every other ant genus in the world connects to the lower half, or to both with a wide surface area. Their gaster is also considered "heart-shaped." The reason for this upper connection to the gaster is so they can more easily flick venom onto enemies or "sting" venom in an overhead like action as a scorpion would go to sting. Their stinger is said to be soft and flexible, like a hair so really they're not so much injecting venom as painting it on.

Aphaenogaster is a true genus of scavengers in the forests of the North East. Now that it's late summer the Dog Days Cicada's are dropping like flies and the ants are cashing in. It's been said that ants keep the forest floor clear of dead insects and it's uncommon for a carcass to go more than 5 minutes without being discovered by an ant.

Discovery is one thing though. Dismantling and hauling it away might take a day or two. These were ripping at the soft parts first and eventually managed to remove the legs. I did not stay to watch anything more.

While we didn't come across any slave making Polyergus, we did chance upon a colony of slave making Formica. This is either Formica pergandei or rubicunda. I didn't collect any specimens, so we'll likely never know what they are unless I go back sometime. This doesn't matter much though as both species tend to live exactly the same way. F. pergandei has 1 - 4 hairs under the head, while F. rubicunda always has 4. F. rubicunda is also more in the habit of having dark patches on the head and thorax. There are other slight differences but this is the kind of stuff that taxonomists nit pick about for hard identifications. 

This is a good photo of the waste segment, looking head on, which is the light orange heart-shaped part before the black gaster. But this is also a bad photo of the "clypeal notch" which is the front section on the head between the mandibles. Trust me there is a notch there; it's visible in other photos I took of these ants. Unfortunately none of these were good enough photos I felt worth uploading and showing. I mention the notch because Formica is the largest ant genus in North America and it's the defining characteristic that narrows it down to those two species. 

Members of the Sanguinae group of Formica HAVE to have host ants within the colony to do the work for them. They are obligated slave makers. Other species of Formica found in the Exsecta, Rufa, and Microgyna groups might use host colonies to found new nests, but after that host species are no longer needed. In fact the Formica exesectoides mounds we like to visit in Turkey Swamp Park rarely use host species. They've move beyond the need for them, allowing new queens from their own colony back into the nest to form a massive super colony within the forest.

These do require slaves though and we chanced upon, I believe starting out on a raid. 

They would pull up individuals of their own species out of the nest and then began running along a trail to a host colony I believe to be either Formica fusca or subsericea. They would then run into the nest, grab a cocoon of one of their hosts and bring it back. None of which I got any good photos of :( 

Ant Chat Episode 40: The Second Annual New Jersey Ant Together

This is the video supplement to the Second Annual New Jersey Ant Together, a yearly event where we get together and look for ants. This year were were delighted to find Trachymyrmex septentrionalis which is the northern most fungus growing species in North America. Unfortunately summer is not their active period. The dark form of Formica pallidefulva was also present and had me confused because I live only a few miles south and they're more of a dull brass color. Aphaenogaster treatae was another new species to us, which is a lot bigger than either of us were used to seeing Aphaenogaster species. Dolichoderus plagiatus were another new species for the both of us. Another highlight was revisiting the Formica exsectoides mounds we saw last year.

Plants:
Hairy Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata ssp. pulchra
Summer Sweet, Clethra alnifolia

More Ant Plant Relations

Ants marching around on plants is something of a common sight in my yard. 

Here a Camponotus nearcticus worker explores the leaves to a cup plant. Likely she's interested in small amounts of pollen or sweetness on the leaves or simply foraging for some insect or some other resource for the colony. Occasionally aphids will drip honeydew down onto lower leaves and it's this that ants go for, but that's not the case here. I've actually never found aphids on cup plants before. Cup Plants are related to Perennial Sunflowers which produce extra floral nectar so I suspect that might be what's going on.

I'd never found aphids on parsley before either but that's happened this year. Sometimes aphids don't afflict the same host plants each year or at least don't do so as badly as on previous years. The ants here are Tapinoma sessile which has become one of the most common ants in my yard. I believe my use of a green house to grow seedlings is the cause. Because their colonies move into the flats I effectively divide the colony every time I plant something in the yard.

Some insects only require the protection from ants during the early stages. Here is a bad photo of some Leaf Hoppers. The younger nymphs are tended by ants but older ones, who've gained their hood, "wings", and brighter color, tend away from this relation. They become fidgety and are quick to flee when predators approach, something aphids don't do.

In the absence of aphids ants and free sources of nectar, ants will out right steal it from flowers. Here a tiny Nylanderia faisonensis worker explores the fanged flowers of an Asclepias tuberosa plant. They're a rather small ant that's able to get into the deep crevices. 

Oddly enough the flowers of Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnatta, are even smaller and I found them being robbed out by a much larger species of ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus. I suspect the large mandibles of this carpenter ant aid in their ability to get at the nectar somehow but I haven't had the time to inspect the flowers for damage.

Camponotus castaneus Waking Up

Camponotus castaneus has started laying their brood for the year it seems. I feel that this is one of those treasured species among ant keepers because of their brilliant orange color, and size 7mm to ~17mm long with queens up to ~17mm. They're among the largest ants in North America as with other true Camponotus species in the genus. It's a diverse genus among the largest in the world and also includes several smaller species who's workers are around 4mm to 7mm long and queens around 12mm give or take.

Along with having only one waist segment (note the ant in the lower left) Camponotus also have a domed mesosoma (thorax or middle section) with the three segments almost forming a smooth curve. This is the only color they come in too, the head is typically darker than the rest of the body but never black the way it is in C. americanus which also tends to have black all over it's body around joints especially.

Technically C. castaneus isn't a true Camponotus species, they fall in a subgroup within the genus known as Tanaemyrmex. Such species are supposidly identified in the genus as being large just like the true Camponotus, but also having elongated looking heads. The trouble I find with this rule is that the trait is only seen in established colonies, hard to see in the smallest workers, doesn't seem to apply to the major caste (the soldiers) and I really only see it in the in between workers. So you need to be looking at a well established colony that's past their first year just to find this trait.

It's one of those scientific facts that's good to know but frankly not practical enough to be useful, especially with a species you can identify at a glance if you're in the eastern U.S. and Canada.

A Field Guide to the Ants of New England lists their common name as "The Chestnut Carpenter Ant"

Ant Chat: Episode 36 Camponotus castaneus Over the Winter

Identification and Distribution of Camponotus

Camponotus is the second largest genera in the world and it's no surprise it's among the largest in North America as well. To help make identification easier scientists recognize a number of subgenera within this genus. Nine of which are found in North America, with a total of 59 species (of roughly 300 world wide). Because life is ever changing and it's more than likely new species will be reported (mostly by accidental introduction) this should be considered a work in progress.

Emphases was placed on making this a simple key that can easily be read by anyone. Most features pointed out don't require a microscope but having one sure doesn't hurt.

You will need a major worker to use this key. Major workers have the most pronounced traits and are largest ants in the colony besides the queen. Queen ants are a close second when trying to identify ants in this genus but remember the thorax will look different and other traits may be slightly off. Minor workers look far to different and don't have enough traits to accurately show the diverse extremes within the colony for most species. Things like hair, thorax curves, color, and head shape aren't as consistent and can look totally different than the major workers of the same species even in the same colony.


A Brief Look at Each Group

True Camponotus and Tanaemyrmex. The majority of ants in this group range from 6 to 20mm long. True Camponotus species have a lot in common with the Tanaemyrex subgenus. So much so that I've grouped them together. The festinatus complex in the south west US and Mexico actually contains members from both groups, to give an example why. Color is surprisingly useful for this group and they've been divided as such. Darker species tend to be the wood nesting true Camponotus while lighter colored soil nesting species tended to be Tanaemyrmex. Tanaemyrmex is said to have a thinner and longer head but this isn't consistent for all members of the colony.

Myrmentoma, Myrmobrachys, Myrmothorix, and Myrmosphincta are smaller versions of True Camponotus and Tanaemyrmex. They range from 3 to 7mm long about. They tend to be opportunistic nesting, often found in hallow galls, dead wood, and empty voids. Colonies to all groups are rarely more than few hundred workers.

Colobopsis and Myrmaphaenus are what I've labeled Door Ants. The major workers and sometimes queens in these groups have flat heads that they use to block off entrances for defense. They're small as in the other group ranging from 3 to 7mm about.


True Camponotus and Tanaemyrmex
Black Species: The primary color to the head, thorax, and abdomen is black.

Camponotus (Camponotus) pennsylvanicus (2) (3) (4) (5) SW, SC, SE, NC, NE (Not found west of the rocky mountains!)
The most common Camponotus in the US. Nest in rotting logs, stumps, and structures. In spring time colonies sometimes divide to maintain sub-colonies in available sites of dead wood. This ant is strictly monogynous and occasionally found to be oligogynous. Probably because sub-colonies are abandoned in the fall time and overwinter in one or two structures. Having more than one queen in a colony is usually settled within 3 months to 1 year. (This is the first native ant described in North America.) Lots of yellow gray hairs on the abdomen make it easy to recognize. Queens sometimes have red on the lower propodum, just above where the legs connect but are otherwise uniform black. Queens resemble C. herculeanus queens and are hard to distinguish. C. herculeanus can have more red in the thorax but can also be just as black. Supposedly the two species can hybridize but not much is known.

Camponotus (Camponotus) modoc (2) (3) SW, NW, NC (Not found far east of the rocky mountains!)
Considered a subspecies of C. pennsylvanicus. Nest in rotting logs, stumps, and structures. Monogynous and oligogynous colonies have been found. They have the yellow gray hair on the abdomen too, but it's said to be shorter. Colonies tend to be much bigger and can reach 50,000 ants or more. Unlike C. pennsylvanicus they have red legs. The mandibles can also be red but this is said to be inconsistent.

Camponotus (Camponotus) laevigatus (2) (3) (4) SW, NW
Nest in rotting logs and stumps of oak trees. Usually found above 6000 feet. Jet black in color and very shiny with lots of short white hairs all over the body. 

Camponotus (Camponotus) laevissimus NW

Camponotus (Camponotus) quercicola (2) (3) SW, NW Now a junior synonym with C. laevigatus.
Said to only nest in the limbs of the California Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia. The North West sighting is presumably the result of someone planting the host tree up north. Very shiny just as C. laevigatus is but lacks the white hairs all over the body.

There is also a black color form of Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) vicinus (2) (3) SW, SC, NW, NC, but this ant is otherwise mixed black and red. The full description is listed down below. 

Red Species: These are lighter colored ants that have red in them, but yellow still wasn't the strongest color.

Camponotus (Camponotus) herculeanus (2) (3) Alaska, SW, NW, NC, NE
Most common ant in forests of boreal and alpine North America. Nest in rotting logs and stumps. Monoynous and oligogynous colonies have been found. Thought this ant can be fairly dark the thorax is usually lighter than the head and abdomen, sometimes red in color. Cheeks look swollen from front face view. Scape is said to be short and unable to extend beyond the back of the head, it's unclear if you need a live specimen to observe this or not. No hairs on the sides of the head. Queens resemble C. pennsylvanicus queens and are hard to distinguish. C. herculeanus can have more red in the thorax but can also be just as black. Supposedly the two species can hybridize but not much is known.

Camponotus (Camponotus) chromaiodes (2) (3) (4) SE, SC, NE, NC
Mixed nests either in or under dead wood, stumps, and sometimes structures. The propodeum, waist segment, base of abdomen, and the legs are always red. Coxa to legs (segment that meets the thorax) are sometimes yellow. The rest of this ant is dark in color. Lots of erect golden hairs can be found on the abdomen. Queens have this color pattern too but the gold hairs isn't always as pronounced. 

Camponotus (Camponotus) novaeboracensis (2) (3) SC, NW, NC, NE
This is called The New York Carpenter Ant because it's the most common Camponotus in that state. It's range extends up somewhat into Canada, and is found sporadicly everywhere else. Nest in logs and stumps. Colony size reaches 10,000 ants. Hair and pubescence is reasonably sparse, and short especially compared to C. pennsylvanicus and C. chromaiodes. Hair is pale yellow or white/gray in color. A front view of the head can reveal a faint red blushing but this can be hard to see and may not be as consistent as previously thought. Similar to C. chromaiodes but hair isn't as dense, the thorax is always all red or bright orange in color and the abdomen is always black or dark in color. The color doesn't bleed over as it does with C. chromaiodes. Queens are almost all black except for red splotches on the thorax that ranges from faint lines to bright orange all over the thorax.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) vicinus (2) (3) SW, SC, NW, NC
Mixed nests in soil or rotting wood. One of the few polygynous species of Camponotus, it's not surprising their colonies get to 100,000 ants or more. Pubescence is sparse, especially on the abdomen. Erect yellow (sometimes white) hairs are all over the body. Very similar to Camponotus noveboracensis but erect hairs are not as long or abundant. The red thorax isn't as consistent either, occasionally the red to C. vicinus will spill over to the abdomen as seen in C. chromaiodes. Differs from C. chromaiodes by not having anywhere near the amount of hair on the abdomen. Queens can be all black in color and shiny, other color forms are not well known but typically some red is included around the waist segment. NOTE: There is also a black color form. 

Camponotus (Camponotus) maritimus SW (California)
Nest under stones in oak woodlands. Similar to C. vicinus but usually smaller in size ranging 6 to 10mm, queens as long as 12mm. A lot shinier too. Similar looking to C. dumetorum (below) but much smaller in size.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) maccooki Mexico
This species was thought to occur in the U.S. for the longest time when actually C. semitesceus (a lighter species in the next section) was being mistaken for it. Similar to C. vicinus but antennal scape are said to be thicker at the tips? Pilosity is the same but the pubescence is less developed and inconspicuous. No hair on the cheeks.

Camponotus (Camponotus) schaefferi (2) SW, SC
Nest in dead oak limbs around 5000 and 8000 feet. Originally described as a Myrmentoma group but is clearly to big for that. Body color is almost uniformly blood red sometimes red yellow.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) dumetorum (2) SW (California)
Found in Chaparral areas where it is the dominant ant. Nests in soil. Lots of long erect hairs all over the body. Similar looking to C. maritimus but much bigger in size.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sansabeanus (2) (3) SW, SC, SE
Nest in soil under stones. Similar to C. maccook (above); or possibly C. semitestaceus (below) because I don't know what ant they were referring to; but stouter and more heavy set looking. Has a bigger head and shorter legs. Clypeal carina (which I believe is the bottom part) is blunter too, with a seashell-like wavy curve to it. Cheeks have more erect hair on them too.
Major worker head is always a very dark black as with the rear of the gaster. Media and minor worker heads are dark brown or deep red, with the larger being darker.  ALSO SEE var. torrefactus (right below).

Yellow Species: These are even lighter colored ants that leaned towards yellow.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sansabeanus var. torrefactus SW, SC, SE
One of the few named varieties of ants. I'm highlighting it because antweb has pictures. This is Camponotus sansabeanus (see above) but it's the orange form of the ant. It has everything in common with the true species but the primary color is completely different, favoring more yellow and orange than red and brown.
*Queens tend towards the being almost completely black but have slight flourishes of yellow on the gaster and legs. However, I'm not sure if this is consistent with between both forms.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) semitestaceus (2) (3) (4) SW, SC, NW
Mistaken for C. maccooki for the longest time in the US. Nest under stones. Cheeks and Gula (under and behind the head) have pilosity and very short bristols. Color varies slightly with this species. The thorax seems to always be deep orange in color which can bleed somewhat into the abdomen or not at all. Images of the winged alate are unconfirmed if they are this species or not, but I trust the source.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) socius (2) SE 
Nest in rotting logs in sandy soil. I imagen nesting in both does occur but references were unclear. Dorsum of thorax is almost perfectly convex. Erect hairs and pubescence is yellow in color and found all over the body except for the scape. Abdomen is black or darker than the rest of the body with a gold yellow spot on each segment, or at least the first two. 

Camponotus (Camponotus) americanus (2) (3) SC, SE, NC, NE
Nests in soil usually under stones and mixed when under dead wood. Ranges farther north than C. castaneus and is said to be more common. Unlike C. castaneus this ant has hair on the cheeks and can have black patches all over the body. Can appear similar in color as C. castaneus but usually not as light.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) castaneus (2) SE, SC, NC, NE
Nest in ground in open soil, under stones, logs, and in stumps. They occasionally enter homes looking for food but are not a real pest. Yellow erect hairs sparsely found on clypeus but not the cheeks or sides of the head. Most commonly seen as an orange ant with a darker head and or abdomen. The darker color is usually dark orange ranging right up to red and almost black. It varies from colony to colony. For Queens the darker color is usually the head and thorax with the abdomen as a lighter color... sometime this is the reverse though. Males are always yellow-orange in color which can help distinguish them from C. americanus.  (not sure what's up here.)

Camponotus (Camponotus) texanus (2) (3) SC (Texas)
Nest in dead oak. 10 to 12mm long. Originally described as a Myrmentoma group. As far as I can tell no one's bothered studying them since. From what I can tell they're a very shiny species. This overall smoothness makes their color seem faded in the right light, which allows the bright yellows and soft reds to come through. Hairs are modestly long and seem to only be abundant on the gaster where they line each tergite. 

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) acutirostris (2) SW, NC
Nest in soil under stones. Similar to C. vicinus but it has a smaller head. Clypeus border is said to be pronounced in front at a pointed angle and is slightly turned up at the tip. I think the "lip" that's described can be seen from the side view of the head. Cheeks with short erect hairs. Pubescence is very short and diluted except on the scape.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) ocreatus (2) (3) SW, SC
Nest under stones. Head is shiny. Scattered punctures on the sides of the head are smaller and less numerous. Major workers also seem uniquely colorful with lots of vibrant reds surrounding the darker areas. Queens have a black head and mesosoma with the gaster a bright orange occasionally tipped with black at the end.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) tortuganus (2) (3) SE (Florida)
Nest in soil under stones and rotting logs. head is long and narrow even in queens. This is probably the only Tanaemyrmex where a long narrow head seems to be consistent for every caste. Eyes too. Legs are fairly long. Thorax has a rough texture with yellow hairs. No hair on cheeks but there are some short strands on the clypeus. Pubescence is sparse.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) incensus SE
As far as I can tell there are no pictures of this ant online. (makes me wonder why I put it with the yellow species in the first place.) Not abundant. Similar to C. tortuganus (10 to 11mm) but smaller (6 to 7mm).

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) variegatus (2) (3) Hawaii
Somehow this is the only Camponotus reported on any of the islands of Hawaii. That is remarkable considering this is the second largest genus of ant in the world. Originally described as a Formica, it is redish brown in color.

Camponotus festinatus complex (Still in the Yellow Species group)
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) festinatus (2) (3) (4) (5) SW, SC
Most commonly found in oak forests. Nest in the ground under stone, logs, and, interestingly enough, dried cow dung. Scapes have several erect hairs with no pubescence! Minors head is always longer than wide. Scape has few erect hairs, usually none at all, with no pubescence! Both castes have suberect/erect hairs along the entire head margin (front view is best). Sometimes they have faint yellowish spots on the abdomen. This species gets less brown as towards Texas.

Camponotus (Camponotus) absquatulator SW (California)
Mixed nests either in or under dead wood. Similar to C. festinatus but slightly smaller in size. Lacks erect hairs along the head above where the antenna connect (front view is best). 

Camponotus (Camponotus) fragilis (2) (3) SW
Nest in soil under stones and dead wood. Similar to C absquatulator but erect hairs are present along entire head margin. Similar to C. festinatus but lacks standing hairs on side of the pronotum (top view of thorax might be needed).

Camponotus (Camponotus) microps SW (Arizona)
Found in mixed pine forests. Nest in fine sandy soil. Different than C. festinatus by the small eyes. Head doesn't narrow at the mandibles as much. Workers have smaller eyes and supposidly have a "posteriorly more strongly strongly narrowed head." - Roy Snelling page 91 right hand side.

Camponotus (Camponotus) pudorosus (2) Mexico (and possibly California)
Formerly called C. picipes. Nest in soil under stones. Similar to C. festinatus but slightly smaller. Scape has lots of subappressed to suberect hairs. Hair also found on cheeks the entire length of the head that range from erect to suberect.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) vafer SW (Arizona)
Nest in soil under stones. Majors and queens have broadly and weakly excised anterior clypeal margins. And longitudinally microrugose mandibles merging into coarser rugae near teeth. Minor workers, not so much, but scape has lots of erect hairs both long and short.


Myrmentoma, Myrmobrachys, Myrmothorix, and Myrmosphincta
These are all fairly small ants in this genus. The last three seem to be tropical and probably imported but established. Because of their unique traits we'll rule them out first.

Myrmosphicta
Camponotus (Myrmosphincta) sexguttatus (2) SE (Florida), Costa Rico, Puerto Rico
South American ant found in various islands and southern Florida. Has only been collected a hand full of times. This ant is mostly black, fairly shiny, and has lots of white/pale yellow hairs all over it's body.

Myrmothorix
Camponotus (Myrmothorix) atriceps (2) SC, SE, Mexico
Though antweb features this as a black ant, there is also a brown form. This ant is similar looking to C. floridanus (below) but is covered with more hairs, especially around the entire head margin (front view is best).  Males apparently are quite colorful.

Camponotus (Myrmothorix) floridanus SE (Florida)
The most common Camponotus in Florida. Similar to C. atriceps but lacks hair around the head margin (frong view is best).

Myrmobrachys
Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) mina SW (Arizona), Mexico
Body is covered in lots of white hairs. Not as much on the antenna segments. Workers have very large eyes compared to the size of the head. The same texture for the compound eyes can be found all over the head and thorax.

Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) trepidulus SW
Similar to C. mina with the white hairs all over the body, but the eyes aren't as big compared to the head. Hair is also present on the antenna segments.

Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) plantus SC, SE, Mexico
Lots of white hairs all over the body, including the antenna segments which covers the abdomen more densely than the other two species. Oh and the head and thorax are red.

Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) novogranadensis SE (Florida), Mexico
Similar to C. plantus but differing in color, as an all black species, and having fewer erect hairs on the body.

Myrmentoma What I call Smaller Carpenter Ants
Camponotus (Myrmentoma) caryae SC, SE, NC, NE
More common in the Eastern regions. Associated with trees, especially Hickory, Carya genus. Uniformly dark brown or black, unlike C. discolor. There is little difference between the two species otherwise. Unlike C. nearcticus they have hair on the cheeks.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) discolor SC, SE, NC, NE
More common in the Central regions. Nest in hallow cavities, dead wood or stumps. Questionably differs from C. caryae. Assosiated with Oak, Hickory, Willow, and Cottonwood. Hybrids between C. discolor and C. caryae might be present in the area of Ohio, Iowa, and Georgia, where the two species supposidly over lap in range.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) nearcticus (2) SW, SC, SE, NW, NC, NE
Nest in living and dead wood, hallow plant cavities including galls, under bark, or in pine cones. Can be all black/dark brown in color but sometimes has red on the mesosoma in the form of slight blushing towards the head or being totally red. Unlike C. caryae they don't have hair on the cheeks. (In southern states some experts argue the redder forms of C. nearcticus to be color variations of C. decipiens. The key difference is that C. nearcticus always has a dark brown/black head where C. decipines does not. C. nearcticus has more erect hairs on the clypeus than C. decipines does but not that many!)

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) subbarbatus (2) SC, SE, NC, NE
Nest in hallow plant cavities, twigs, branches, sometimes under bark etc... Distinctive gold yellow stripes go around the abdomen! This isn't just the membrane under the abdomen tergits, it's actual color on the tergits themselves. Majors and Queens have it especially, workers not so much.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) anthrax SW (California)
Only found in California. Nest in soil under stones. Easily recofnised by the sexdentata mandible on both worker and queens. From side view lots of long erect hairs.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) clarithorax SW, NW
Found in chaparral and in coastal scrub habitats. Nest in dead branches to Oak, Quercus sp. Similar to C. caryae but fewer erect hairs. Not that it matters because C. caryae doesn't occur that far west. 

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) cuauhtemoc SC (Texas), Mexico
Rare. Found at high elevations between 3500 and 6000 feet. Nest in oak trees, Quercus sp. Different from C. anthrax by lots of white hairs on the abdomen. Dull red in color. Texture on abdomen like bumps.  

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) decipiens SC, SE, NC
Nest in hallow plant cavities. This species is more common in the Eastern part of it's range. Very similar to C. sayi but has a broader mesosoma where the middle and rear legs are.  Waist segment, when looked at from behind or above will be rounded and fan like. C. sayi is narrower. Very similar to C. snellingi but the gaster is totally black. 

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) sayi SW, SC, SE, (NC Nebraska)
Nest in living and dead wood. Hallow plant cavities such as galls, under bark, rotting logs, and stumps. This species is more common in the West. Similar to C. decipiens but thorax is less bulky looking where the middle and rear legs are. Has a distinctively deep groove dead center of the face. Looks similar to C. snelling but the body color is yellow orange instead of red brown. C. essigi also looks similar but the texture and body proportions are way off.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) essigi SW, NW
Found in chapparral, oak and pin fir woodlands. Nests in dead branches and cynipid galls, mostly in oak, but also pine, cottonwood, cedar, and manzauita. Can be full black in it's northern range. Can be orange red in the southern parts with abdomen only half black. Dorsum of thorax is smooth for the most part. The pronodum is slightly convex and drops off toward the waist segment.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) hyatti SW, NW, Mexico
Nest in yucca stalks and in soil under dead juniper limbs, (which is odd because I've never known juniper to have large limbs,) oaks, manzanita, chemise, sage brush stems and roots. Dorsum of thorax is smooth except for the pronodum which is very convex.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) bakeri SW (California)
Only found in California. Nest in soil. Head, thorax, appendages, and 2/3rds of the first abdomen segment are red orange! Dorsum of thorax segments are well divided and each is convex.

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) snellingi (2) SC, SE, NC
Formerly called C. pavidus. SC, SE, (No Images Available) this species is described as follows: The head, mesosoma, and petiole are yellow to yellowish red with the appendages somewhat darker. The first two tergites of the gaster are almost always yellow or at least have a yellow staining with the rest of the gaster being totally black. The yellow on the gaster can be used to distinguish this species from C. decipiens.

Colobopsis and Myrmaphaenus
These are small like the other group but all of the major workers to a species have flattened heads.

Myrmaphaenus species are the more exotic of the two and should be ruled out first. These are just like Colobopsis but the clypeus is not as pronounced.
Camponotus (Myrmaphaenus) ulcerosus (2) SW, (SC Texas)
Nest in soil under stones. "A carton shield is constructed at the nest entrance with the opening the same size as the major's head." The body is all black in color except for a brown orange patch on the face. Minor workers seem to all lack this patch of color. Both are covered in short white hairs.

Camponotus (Myrmaphaenus) yogi SW (California)
Nest in twigs mostly those belonging to Haplopappus pinifolius which is some type of sedge I can't find much information on. Body is very shiny with lots of reds and browns from head to thorax that gradually turns black on the abdomen. Legs are lighter in color leaning towards yellow.

Colobopsis Door Ants. These can be hard to identify at first glance. A good clear side view of the thorax is vital to a correct identification. These have been arranged by which have the smoothest dorsum of the thorax.
Camponotus (Colobopsis) etiolatus SC (Texas), Mexico
Nest in galls and twigs. Pale color. Thorax profile is fairly smooth with light indentations separating the prenodum, mesonotum, and propodeum.

Camponotus (Colobopsis) papago SW (Arizona), Mexico
Nest in limbs of mesquite trees. Texture on head is almost certainly distinctive with an embossed effect. Hairs on clypeus, mandables, and malar area (cheeks) are fan like at the tips. Body is otherwise very shiny.

Camponotus (Colobopsis) mississippiensis SC, SE, NC, NE
Has only been found nesting in live twigs to White Ash Trees, Fraxinus americanus. Said to be the most common species in the state of Mississippi. Dorsum of thorax is smooth.

Camponotus (Colobopsis) impressus (2) SC, SE, NC, NE
Nest in sedge culms. Very odd place. There is an indent/keel that runs down the entire clypeus and middle of the head. 

Camponotus (Colobopsis) hunteri (2) SC (Texas)
Nest in twigs of pecan trees but possibly others too. Unique in color. Yellow or pale orange brown thorax, waist segments, and appendages. Head slightly darker. Abdomen paler than thorax before becoming full black at the tip.

Camponotus (Colobopsis) obliquus (2) SE
Nest in hickory nuts, sticks, twigs and gulls. Similar to C. impressus but has more hair along sides of the head. Has more texture along the head. Pronodum is convexly pointed. Thorax lacks the flat area between the mesonotum and pronodum as seen in other Colobopsis.

Camponotus (Colobopsis) pylartes SC, SE
Nest in twigs, trees, and shrubs. Don't let the color fool you. They can be just as dark as C. impressus. Pronotum and mesonotum slightly smaller than C. impressus.

Camponotus (Colobopsis) cerberulus Mexico


Sources
Deyrup, M., Belmont, R. A. 2013. First Record of a Florida Population of the Neotropical Carpenter Ant Camponotus novogranadensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Florida Entomologist 96(1):283-285. 2013 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1653/024.096.0148

Smith, M.R. 1954. A new Camponotus in California apparently inhabiting live oak, Quercus sp (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 61: 211-214

Snelling, R.R.; (2006) Taxonomy of the Camponotus festinatus complex in the United States of America (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Myrmecologische Nachrichten, 8, 83-97

Snelling, R.R.; (date not listed Taxonomic Notes on Nearctic Species of Camponotus, Subgenus Myrmentoma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Advances in Myrmecology, 7, 55-78

Ward, P. S. 2005. A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 936: 1-68.

Wheeler, W.M. A list of the ants of Florida with descriptions of new forms. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 40: 1-17

Wheeler, W. M. 1910. The North American ants of the genus Camponotus Mayr. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 20: 295-354

Wheeler, W. M. 1904. The American ants of the subgenus Colobopsis. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 20: 139-158

Ant Chat Episode 31: Some Spring Flying Ants

This is basically a rundown of the species I've found flying here in my yard. I'm thrilled to report I've lost count as to how many ant species are found in my yard. Counting ant species is a slightly better way of measuring biodiversity in an area than say beetles, moths, and butterflies. Counting everything of course is probably best, but ant colonies are for the most part stationary, rather than just passing through.

Stenamma is the most recent genus found outside. I honestly didn't think they occurred in New Jersey, let alone my yard. Workers are really small and, I think, easy to mistake for Temnothroax as I have been apparently doing all my life. After the Stenamma queen I find what I thought was a Leptothorax species but after doing some research I find those are most common on the west coast, so that's likely a Temnothorax, or less likely, a Formicoxenus.  

Alex Wild tells me that North American species of Stenamma have a narrower section of the petiole as it comes off the mesosoma, see here. I should probably qualify this as one of those "most of the time it's true" statements. Just glancing over some of the Ant Web specimens I found a Temnothorax or two with the same trait. For the most part though, Temnothorax have don't have this smooth poll-like portion of the petiole; I'd say over all the majority have this section as an angular section. Stenamma seem to have smaller eyes which are also flatter to the head, while most Temnothorax seem to have larger eyes that dome outward somewhat. Again though there is a Stenamma or two that have very Temnothorax-like eyes. I'm not even going to throw Formicoxenus and Leptothorax into the mix but you get this idea, identifying something can be a pain in the ass.

While I have the genus down for that queen, I don't have the species. Stenamma have cryptic nests underground where I've read they are almost certainly predators of small arthropods.

Also above I found a Camponotus castaneus queen starting out. I'd already found a queen to this species behind work. Finding a new queen trying to start her colony in my yard is very rewarding. I made the decision to not catch her because the current adult colony that's out there really isn't doing so hot this year. They may be coming to the end of their colonies natural lifespan and I think it's important to allow some queens to get away. As another example there are some parts of my yard that I just don't look for ants and otherwise never disturb.

Some Camponotus Queens

Camponotus castaneus queen.

I found this beauty behind work yesterday. She was standing still by a light near on of the fire exits. I'm thrilled that I can still find these despite half the adjacent forest land being demolished for a Walmart. What makes these queens so special is they're pretty much the only solid orange Camponotus species... in my region anyhow. Off the top of my head there are some bright Camponotus of the south west but I don't think any of them are solid orange. Another species that I don't see that often is Camponotus americanus which has more black in it's coloration but can be just as orange. Both nest underground as opposed to in wood. However, they're always found in forests or around trees. So despite their ground nesting habit they're still bound to the same foraging habits as most other Camponotus.  

Camponotus species queen.

Another species I found flying now, is this Camponotus that I can't ID. She's in the Myrmentoma group, which are basically small Carpenter ants. Given my region Camponotus caryae, Camponotus discolor, or Camponotus nearcticus are the most likely possibilities. And to be honest I'm not certain which, as all three species seem to be present in my yard.What I find neat about this group is that they're able to nest inside of hollow stem plants. Thus you can find them a little farther out of the forest than larger Camponotus but their colonies don't get as big.

Balancing Ants and Aphids

Camponotus subbarbatus tending aphids.

So ants protect aphids can be good for the plant, but only when the population stays under control. Something to note though is that their success is often dependent on the ants being around them and that doesn't always happen. One of the most common genera to be doing this is that of Formica but these are all diurnal foragers. Come night fall they're pretty much replaced by Camponotus (pictured above) which are more nocturnal. An issue with Camponotus though they rarely nest away from trees and are not often found in open fields. An exception to this might be in the case of a tall grass prairie with lots of dead wood or hollow stem plants about, but even then it would be one of the smaller species, and demands the field wasn't burned that spring. I'm not sure what protects aphids at night in fields.

Also, something I noticed last year was that most aphid species in my yard seemed to finish their life cycle before summer really began. These were replaced by other aphids but found on different plants, red ones on Rudbeckia, orange ones on Milkweed etc... With the absence of aphids that also means the absence of hover fly larva, (pictured above) which feed on the aphids without the ants realizing it.

Parasitic wasps are another threat without ants around. I watched this one inject her eggs into several aphids but never got a good picture of it. Always she targeted the groups that didn't have ants guarding them.

Camponotus subbarbatus grasping a male Nylanderia flavipes.

Another threat to the aphids might be to much of a good thing. Ant colonies need to have a balanced diet and store up on foods to get through parts of the year. Colonies are stealing nectar and tending aphids now as it will become rare over the summer. Once the stores are full up they have no farther need of the aphids and may send fewer workers to maintaining herds. The colony diet turns more towards foods rich in protein (insects) and starches (seeds). These foods don't store as long as carbohydrates (nectar and honeydew) but are needed for producing more ants and especially reproductive castes.

Come autumn nectar stores will be low once again. The colony diet will focus more towards sugars and the ants will be clambering for aphids and nectar once again.

Ant Chat Episode 27: Ants and Wildflowers

A pairing of spring wildflowers and the ants I find around them. Even before planting all these wildflowers I already had a lot of ant diversity. So with this video I'm basically documenting the wildflowers I've planted around certain ant colonies and in the future I'll be noting any interest if at all.

I also open up one of my honey bee hives that didn't survive the winter and see what's lurking about. I am certain they died of starvation and not CCD.

Some Ant Flight Activity

Earlier this week a colony of Odorous House Ants, Tapinoma sessile, attempted conducting a nuptial flight inside my house. They failed miserably and I was greeted by the occasional alate (winged ant) every few minutes. They climbed up from wherever the colony is and made their way across the computer table to the window and eventually found freedom. Clearly anting season is here, which begs the question, what else is flying?

First incredibly hot night of the year that lacked any wind or in coming cold fronts treated me to a full pallet of what's flying now. The main ant for my area is Camponotus castaneus, pictured above and previously here on the blog. Males are hard to identify but I'm reasonably sure C. castaneus is the only one (for my area) that has orange males. This is uncommon for ants across the board. Usually male ants are black regardless of the species color. There were other Camponotus males there that were black but without knowing what the queen or workers look like an ID can't really be made. At least not by me. There is also a Lasius species that seems to over winter it's alates, instead of flying in the fall like most of the other species.

This is an awful picture of male Tetramorium males. They're suspended in a spider web which is a good way to see what was flying the night before.

That night I found a Tetramorium queen, Pavement Ant. These didn't fly until midnight.

So there's a full succession of flights based on the hour of the day. Early on Nylanderia, Tapinoma, and I've found a few Myrmica (with wings) this early in the year before. As the afternoon comes and night falls Camponotus, and Lasius seem to fly next. And very late at night and probably well into the morning Tetramorium fly.

You could argue there's to much to do in the day for someone interested in ants. Thankfully I've found there is roughly a 24 hour period after a flight that queens seem to be abundant and about. Making a habit of checking under the same rocks, logs, flower pots, etc... can yield results.

The Story of Hungry Ants

Ant: Oh boy I found me some termites on a piece of banana ... for some reason.

Ant: I'm gonna eat you. Gurrrr!

Ant: I'm gonna spray acid in you. Gurrrr!

Ant: I'm gonna feed you to mom.
Mom: Gurrrr!

Ant: Now let's all eat it!
Ants: Yum!

Mom: Needs a hint more acid to get the flavor just right.
Ants: Yay!

End.

Camponotus War

Two days ago we suddenly had some warm weather. High 80's low 90's roughly. And there was something about the day, maybe it's just New Jersey but there was a grassy, pool smell in the air. I don't know what it is but it's just something I pick up on. And I mention these things because Camponotus around me usually starts flying on days like this.

Sure enough I found a few males but this was the first day of the year they could fly... so it wasn't anything special, just a few males and a queen to some one of the smaller species. The main flights will pick up next week or after this odd storm system passes over the area.

Having nuptial causes colonies to become territorial. Firstly they want to make their range safe for queens and males to fly away from the nest. Secondly to prevent new queens and males from other colonies from founding on their land. These arguments continue well into the daylight hours when Camponotus usually don't forage.

This Camponotus pennsylvanicus major has the battle scars of a recent skirmish. The smaller ants are either C. nearcticus or C. caryae. They hold on to their opponent well into death. Both are missing their abdomen and will likely stay attached to this ant until she dies.

This is the same ant but there were a few hanging around the same general area. C. nearcticus and C. caryae have small colonies of 300 ants or so, while the larger C. pennsylvanicus is known to have 10,000 or more.

I didn't see to much fighting to be honest but it seemed like the larger species was moving into the same dead branch as the smaller species. Ants gripped in combat fell off the tree at a slow pace.

The smaller species wasn't without some victory. This ant C. penn major isn't dead yet but is missing most of her limbs and without her antenna she will die. I forget why losing the antenna causes the ant to die exactly but I know it's fatal to them.

Be on the look out for Camponotus queens both big and small over the next couple of weeks.

In Camponotus queens tend to be the largest, or equally as big as the major workers, in the colony. Unlike the majors, their thorax is more developed looking and rounded. Queens will always have wing scars too. These are where the wings used to be attached to the thorax.

They come in a variety of colors depending on the species. The abdomen isn't always as swollen looking as in the photo above. The white "stripes" as people like to call them are actually a stretchable membrane under the plates that make up the abdomen.

Queens are not always common but the larger species are very easy to spot. After a nuptial flight they'll be walking around for as much as 24 hours before settling down. The sooner the better. Regardless of preference to nest in soil or in dead wood, because of their size they're almost always seen walking around or found under objects, rocks, logs, etc...

I occasionally find a young colony (less than 100 ants) all nesting under a log, having been displaced by a larger colony. Young colonies like this are easily collected if you're quick enough. They're the result of a larger colony moving on in. Rather than duke it out one colony flees. 

Camponotus castaneus Journal 04/13/10

I believe it was on March 20th that I noticed the colonies of Camponotus castaneus were once again awake. The clusters of brood to both colonies started developing.

What's neat though is the colony still in the test tube setup is farther along than the one in the plaster tank setup. They already have a larvae that's spun a cocoon.

And I want to say the queens to both colonies have started laying again.

As a little nuptial flight update I've been reading reports of Camponotus pennsylvanicus, americanus, and chromaiodes (3 fairly abundant species in North America) have started flying. Time of day is something of an issue though. I believe most species fly in the late afternoon and continue on into the night. Come 11:00pm though and they've stopped flying completely. Queens wonder around for upwards of 24 hours after flying. They're not horribly common in most places but because of their lumbering size (13 to 20mm long) they're easy to spot.