American Carpenter Ant – Camponotus americanus
This is a major worker ant at 11mm
Camponotus americanus is commonly found in North America, ranging in the United States generally east of the Mississippi from the Gulf of Mexico to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Canada. These ants prefer nesting in decaying wood, stumps, logs, and hollow trees.
They are often referred to as carpenter ants due to their ability to excavate wood to create their nests, although they do not consume the wood as termites do.
Carpenter ants excel in their ability to excavate wood to create their nests. This behavior sets them apart from many other ant species, as they have evolved to establish colonies in decaying or damp wood, including logs, stumps, trees, and human-made wooden structures.
They are known for forming relatively large colonies with thousands of individuals and may establish satellite colonies to expand their foraging range. I know if I leave a garden hose out for very long, carpenter ants begin using it as a superhighway to reach new areas to forage, far away from the nest – up to 80 feet of hose away! That’s dedication.
Camponotus is omnivorous, meaning they have a varied diet which includes both plant-based material such as nectar and fruits, and animal protein such as small insects and other arthropods. Workers forage for food and bring it back to the colony. They do not eat wood.
See also: Carpenter Ant – Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Reference: Bugguide.net, Carpenter Ant Camponotus americanus
Bees & Wasps & Ants Index | Bees & Wasps Main
Tree Encyclopedia / North American Insects & Spiders
Online since 2002
