Carpenter ant

Carpenter ant

Taxobox


image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Camponotus herculeanus" (Worker)
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Formicidae
subfamilia = Formicinae
tribus = Camponotini
genus = "Camponotus"
genus_describer = Mayr, 1861
type_species = "Formica ligniperda"
type_species_authority = Latreille, 1802
diversity_link = List of Camponotus species
diversity = > 1,000 species
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

Carpenter ants are large ants (¼ in–1 in) indigenous to many parts of the world. They prefer dead, damp wood in which to build nests. Sometimes carpenter ants will hollow out sections of trees. The most likely species to be infesting a house in the United States is the Black carpenter ant, "Camponotus pennsylvanicus". However, there are over a thousand other species in the genus "Camponotus".

ymbionts

All ants in this genus, and also some related genera, possess an obligate bacterial endosymbiont called "Blochmannia". This bacterium has a small genome, and retains genes to biosynthesize essential amino acids and other nutrients. This suggests the bacterium plays a role in ant nutrition. Many "Camponotus" species are also infected with "Wolbachia", another endosymbiont that is widespread across insect groups.

Habitat

Resides both outdoors and indoors in moist, decaying or hollow wood. They cut "galleries" into the wood grain to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. They can leave "sawdust" behind that provides clues to nesting location. If this wooden complex happens to be a wall frame within your home, structural damage may result. Moisture is the key component to look for, when managing this species. [ [http://nopests.com/bug_carp_ant.shtml Exterminate Carpenter Ants New York, New Jersey, Connecticut - NoPests ] ]

Exploding ants

In at least nine Southeast Asian species of the "Cylindricus" complex, such as "Camponotus saundersi", workers feature greatly enlarged mandibular glands. They can release their contents suicidally by rupturing the intersegmental membrane of the gaster, resulting in a spray of toxic substance from the head, which gave these species the common name "exploding ants".Jones "et al." 2004]

Selected Species

See List of "Camponotus" species for a complete listing of species and subspecies.

* "Camponotus atriceps" — Florida carpenter ant; one of the many kinds of carpenter ants that can bite and release a painful acid.
* "Camponotus chromaiodes" — red carpenter ant
* "Camponotus consobrinus" — sugar ant
* "Camponotus crassus" Mayr, 1862
* "Camponotus ferrugineus" (Fab.) — red carpenter ant
* "Camponotus gigas" — Giant forest ant
* "Camponotus herculeanus"
* "Camponotus kaura"
* "Camponotus ligniperda" — an important species in Europe
* "Camponotus nearcticus" (Emery) — smaller carpenter ant
* "Camponotus pennsylvanicus" (DeGeer) — black carpenter ant
* "Camponotus punctulatus" (Mayr) — Tacuru ant
* "Camponotus saundersi" — Malaysia
* "Camponotus sericeus"
* "Camponotus taino"
* "Camponotus variegatus" — Hawai'ian carpenter ant

Footnotes

References

* (2004): The Chemistry of Exploding Ants, "Camponotus" spp. ("Cylindricus" complex). "Journal of Chemical Ecology" 30(8): 1479-1492. doi|10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28

Further reading

* (1861): Die europäischen Formiciden. Vienna. [http://antbase.org/ants/publications/8104/8104.pdf PDF] — original description of p.35
* (2007): A Key to "Camponotus" Mayr of Australia. In: Snelling, R.R., B.L. Fisher & P.S. Ward (eds). Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): homage to E.O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. "Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute" 80. [http://antbase.org/ants/publications/21285/21285.pdf PDF] — 91 species, 10 subspecies

External links

* [http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef603.htm University of Kentucky Extension Fact Sheet]
* [http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2063.html Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet]
* [http://www.cirrusimage.com/hymenoptera_ant_carpenter.htm Black Carpenter Ants] Diagnostic large format photographs, information
* [http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/ants/C_planatus.htm compact carpenter ant, "Camponotus planatus"] on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
* [http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/ants/fl_carpenter_ants.htm Florida carpenter ant complex, "Camponotus floridanus" and "C. tortuganus"] on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carpenter ant — Carpenter Car pen*ter, n. [OF. carpentier, F. charpentier, LL. carpentarius, fr. L. carpentum wagon, carriage.] An artificer who works in timber; a framer and builder of houses, ships, etc. Syn: {Carpenter}, {Joiner}. Usage: The carpenter frames… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carpenter ant — n. any of a genus (Camponotus) of large ants that build nests in wooden buildings, tree trunks, etc. by gnawing out a complicated series of chambers …   English World dictionary

  • carpenter-ant — carˈpenter bee or carˈpenter ant noun A bee or ant that excavates its nest in wood • • • Main Entry: ↑carpenter …   Useful english dictionary

  • carpenter ant — car′penter ant n. ent a black or brown ant of the genus Camponotus that nests in decaying wood • Etymology: 1880–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • carpenter ant — /ˈkapəntə ænt/ (say kahpuhntuh ant) noun a large ant of the genus Camponotus, especially C. pennsylvanicus, the adults of which are usually black; nests are established in wood from which wood fragments are cut to expand galleries (see gallery… …  

  • carpenter ant — noun ant that nests in decaying wood in which it bores tunnels for depositing eggs • Hypernyms: ↑ant, ↑emmet, ↑pismire • Member Holonyms: ↑Camponotus, ↑genus Camponotus …   Useful english dictionary

  • carpenter-ant n — If your dad s sisters are construction workers, you might call them carpenter aunts …   English expressions

  • carpenter ant — noun Date: 1883 an ant (especially genus Camponotus) that gnaws galleries especially in dead or decaying wood …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • carpenter ant — a black or brown ant of the genus Camponotus that nests in the wood of decaying or dead trees in which it bores tunnels for depositing its eggs. [1880 85] * * * …   Universalium

  • carpenter ant — noun a large ant which burrows into wood to make a nest. [Genus Camponotus.] …   English new terms dictionary

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