Camponotus socius
| Camponotus socius | |
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| Camponotus socius worker | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | Formicidae
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| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: | Camponotus
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| Species: | C. socius
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| Binomial name | |
| Camponotus socius Roger, 1863
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Camponotus socius or the Sandhill Carpenter ant is a large species of ant in the genus Camponotus.[1] It was first described by Roger (1863), based on specimens from Brazil - however these can be considered highly dubious as the location where the type specimens were collected (Amazonas) does not fit the known ecology of the species within North America. In the United States the species has traits typical of a native species as it is adapted to the sandy soils of xeric woodlands within the coastal plains of the southeastern United States.[2][3][4] It can be found within the US states of Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North and South Carolina and Mississippi.
Description[]
Camponotus socius is characterized by a variegated gaster somewhat resembling that of a wasp, with deep yellows and oranges that tend to be stronger in color depending on the environment, with some populations tending to be darker in color in areas with extensive shade coverage and or certain soil compositions. The thorax and legs are typically a rusty burgundy or vermilion and the head typically a darker maroon. This species exhibits polymorphism with the minor caste exhibiting elongated heads and spindly body proportions as characteristic of carpenter ants in the subgenus Tanaemyrmex. The scape of the antennae lacks hair. They are among the largest of North American species of carpenter ant with the minor workers ranging from 7.5 - 10 mm and majors reaching lengths of 16 mm. The large queens are typically around 17 - 18 mm in length and 20 mm depending on their physiological condition. The males are a concolorous black and are around 14 - 15 mm in length.
Biology[]
C. socius exclusively prefers areas with well draining sandy soils with partial or extensive shade coverage to live in, such as in xeric sandhill habitats for which they're named after. The nests are typically around 60 cm deep with lobed chamber networks that are gradually enlarged overtime as the colony grows. Numerous satellite nests are constructed and occupied by a single colony which the workers actively move to and from.[5] The nests themselves are inconspicuous as they're usually hidden within the vegetation of the forest floor, with the entrance of the nests represented as simple holes on the ground. Excavating workers take great care to carry material far from the nest to avoid any mound building, with the tumuli deposited in a fan shape a couple feet away from the entrance.
These ants avoid the hottest hours of the day, being primarily active in the morning and late evening hours, where foraging and nest maintenance work is usually being carried out by the shy and fast moving workers. The entrance of nests are left open throughout the day with little to no activity through the afternoon after the colony has retreated. Workers from colonies located in more heavily shaded areas however can be more active throughout the day, or in prolonged cloudy weather.
Populations of these ants appear to be locally abundant in undisturbed areas of suitable habitat. Within Florida they can be most commonly found in remaining longleaf pine sandhill or xeric hammocks and their related communities, as well as a variety of other sandy upland forest communities especially within the central highlands of North and Central Florida. Nests are typically located at the tree line of dense forests in semi-open areas. This species appears to be absent in most areas near or close to human habitation, leaving them to be quite an elusive ant of their particular size; although they may persist in recently developed former habitat in residential areas. They are not a threat to structures as they chiefly nest within sandy soils.
C. socius, like other carpenter ants, is an omnivorous opportunist where the workers will readily prey or scavenge upon arthropods, or forage on native shrubs for honeydew excreted by sap-sucking hemipterans.They are a particular fan of reptile urates.
Reproduction[]
Reproductive brood is overwintered and reared into the following year. Alates eclose by early summer and are released in nuptial flights between late September and early November. Alates can be observed scanning the perimeter of their natal nests on warm overcast days after heavy rains between the hours of 2 and 5 PM. If good conditions persist up to or through 4 PM, the alates in a frenzy will leave their natal nest; females will walk a considerable distance away before taking to the air, while the males typically take off directly from the nest. Each individual colony will only rear a few hundred alates every season. The first flights are typically the largest with subsequent flights being smaller in size. The fully claustral queens can be found later the next morning excavating their founding chambers until the late afternoon.
References[]
- ^ Bolton, B. (2015). "Camponotus socius". AntCat. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Roger, J. (1863). "Die neu aufgeführten Gattungen und Arten meines Formiciden-Verzeichnisses nebst Ergänzung einiger früher gegebenen Beschreibungen". Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift (in German). 7: 131–214.
- ^ Creighton, W. S. (1950). "The ants of North America". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 104: 1–585.
- ^ Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
- ^ Tschinkel, Walter R. (2005). "The nest architecture of the ant, Camponotus socius". Journal of Insect Science. 5 (1). doi:10.1093/jis/5.1.9. ISSN 1536-2442. PMC 1283890.
External links[]
Media related to Camponotus socius at Wikimedia Commons
- Camponotus
- Hymenoptera of North America
- Hymenoptera of South America
- Insects described in 1863
- Formicinae stubs