This article provides an introduction to Carpenter Ants, also called Wood Ants - very large ants of the genus Campotonus. View ant videos and ant photos.
Myrmecology, About Ants - info-now.org logo About Ants, Myrmecology - Bookworm Learning...THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ANTS: Carpenter Ants - Wood Ants: Introductions

CARPENTER

ANTS

Crpenter Ant Species - USA

Camponotus castaneus (USA)

photos: courtesy of alexanderwild.com

 

Carpenter Ant Species - Australia..........Carpenter Ant Species - Europe.....Carpenter Ant Species - S. Africa

.Camponotus aeneopilosus (Australia).................. Camponotus ligniperda (Europe)................Camponotus arminius (S. Africa).....

 

CARPENTER ANTS . WOOD ANTS

An Introduction To Genus Camponotus & Large Ant Species

By Carolyn Pararas-Carayannis

Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Formicidae Genus: Camponotus

For in-depth discussion of Myrmecology: Ant Taxonomy & Classification; Formicidae (ant) Colony Behaviors; Anatomy, Physiology, Life Cycle (complete metamorphosis), Colony Caste System and great, relevant ant videos click here.
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Carpenter Ants are very adaptable large ants that make use of decaying wood and a wide variety of protected, secluded areas for nesting. Although most nest in wood, some species - like Camponotus castaneus (see below) - prefer to dwell in soil. Contrary to popular belief, Carpenter Ants (often referred to as "Wood Ants") are unable to digest cellulose and, therefore, do not eat wood. Instead, they tunnel through moist or decaying wood compromised by fungi, water, or other insects to create passageways and galleries for nesting. They rarely infest firm, intact wood. When nests are located indoors, their extensive tunnel and gallery excavations can result in major structural damage.

Carpenter Ant Species - Ground Dweller

fig.1: Camponotus castaneus Worker carrying a Cocoon (USA) photo: courtesy of alexanderwild.com

A characteristic of most Carpenter Ant species is their practice of establishing satellite colonies overtime, as numbers within the primary nest increase. These secondary nest extensions are located adjacent to the primary nest site and can be established in a variety of places - since they do not house the queen, eggs or new larvae, which require stable humidities within their galleries.

It is not uncommon for a primary nest to be established outdoors, adjacent or near to a building, and find the satellite colonies of this nest established within secluded areas of the structure. Satellite colony indoor locations include structural voids such as: inside door hollows, wall-gap areas behind paneling, inside empty pipes and curtain rods, and foam insulation.

Primary nesting sites, in order to maintain precise humidity requirements within incubating galleries, need damp locations - whether established indoors or out.

Educated homeowners are the first line of defense against home invasion by Carpenter Ants and can be very effective when it comes to prevention, identifying early signs of infestation & preliminary control. Once established, however, Carpenter Ants are one of the most challenging and difficult species to eradicate from the home by the homeowner. Given their life cycle, multiple nest locations, concealment within wall voids, ceilings, subfloors, attics, and/or hollow door spaces, as well as their tolerance to store bought ant traps and insecticides, professional help is often warranted.

Next: Carpenter Ant Anatomy (General Anatomy, Identification Made Easy, Anatomical Differences Between Winged Carpenter Ants and Termites)

.Carpenter Ant Behaviors (Nesting, Primary Nests, Satellite Nests, New Primary Nest Formation, Nuptial Flight, Habits & Seasonal Activities; Diet & Foraging; Carpenter Ant Videos - Colony Behaviors / Nesting.)

Carpenter Ant Videos (Carpenter Nest; Carpenter Workers Removing Wood, Carpenter Ant Nest - Home Infestation)

Signs of.Indoor Infestation....Eradication ......Prevention & Ant Control.

 

Carpenter Ant Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda, Subphylum: Hexapoda, Class: Insecta, Subclass: Pterygota, Infraclass: Neoptera, Order: Hymenoptera, Suborder: Apocrita, Infraorder: Aculeata, Superfamily: Vespoidea, Family: Formicidae Genus: Camponotus (ITIS, 2006).

Search Terms: Large Ants; Ant Types; Ant Species; Carpenter Ants; Family: Formicidae; Genus: Camponotus; Wood Ants; Ant Videos

info-now.org : Article Previews

From: "The Wonderful World of Ants" & "Gardening Tips".

The Ants' Four-part Philosophy
By Brian Sylvan; edited 2008 Carolyn by Pararas-Carayannis

Jim Rohn has a very powerful philosophy which he calls the "ant" philosophy. He says that ants have a four-part philosophy. First, ants don't quit - ever. They don't worry about details. They just "do". If their job is to gather food that's all they do. They are masters of their tasks. They never quit. Ants follow what is called an "ant trail." They don't get lost as long as they follow the line. Sometimes, obstacles obscure their trail. But they don't panic or give up. Instead, they search until they locate the scent of the path again. Powerful stuff. The moral? Don't ever quit. If you lose your way, search. Strive to pick up the scent of your path again. During Summer read more

The Flying Ant - A Nuptial Flight!
by Dr. Carolyn Pararas-Carayannis

Many people do not believe there are any such things as flying ants - but there are. Except for a few species, all males and sexually mature, ready-to-mate queens have have wings. Let's look at Carpenter ants, for instance. During late winter and early spring swarms of winged queens and winged males (produced during late summer) emerge from mature colony (satellite) nests for their nuptial flights. If nest locations are indoors, swarming individuals are easily identified, often trapped within the structure. The simultaneous mating flight of all winged sexual's produced from colonies within a specific geographic area is called "Nuptial Flight". This "swarming" is triggered by optimal environmental conditions (warm and humid) and read more

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REFERENCES & ADDITIONAL READING

"Arthropoda". The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
©2008 on Integrated Taxonomic Index Information System Online Database.
14 Dec. 2008, retrieved.
<http://www.itis.gov/index.html>.

"Carpenter Ant". 1999. Field Guide to Texas Insects by Drees, B.M. and John Jackman, Gulf Publishing Co. Houston, Tx.; Reprinted online by Texas A&M University Department of Entomology © 2008.
28 Dec. 2008, retrieved.
<http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg356.html>

"Carpenter Ant". Western Pest Services.
©2008 Western Pest Services.
28 Dec. 2008, retrieved.
<http://www.westernpest.com/pests/carpenter-ant>.

"Carpenter Ant Bites". © Orkin Inc.. 2May2010 retrieved. <http://www.orkin.com/ants/carpenter-ant/carpenter-ant-bites>

"Carpenter Ants". Mid Atlantic Integrated Pest Management.
©2007 Mid Atlantic IPM.
28 Dec. 2008, retrieved.
<http://www.midatlanticipm.org/01_Insects/PDF/Carpenter_Ants.pdf>.

"Pest Control". Do It Yourself Pest Control. ©2006 Do It Yourself Pest Control. 2009 Dec. retrieved.< http://antcontrols.com/carp.htm> .

Gold R.; Glenn G; Brown W. 1999. "Carpenter Ants".
Texas Agricultural Extension Service; © Texas A&M University Department of Entomology. Accessed December 28, 2008 at: <http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/publications/epubs/e-412.cfm>.

Hahn J.; Cannon, C.; Ascerno, M. 2002. "Carpenter Ants".
© 2004 University of Minnesota Extension; Accessed December 26, 2008 at
<http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1015.html>

"Types of Ants: Carpenter Ants". The Ant Institute Online.
©2008 BASF Corporation.
28 Dec. 2008, retrieved.
<http://www.antinstitute.com/types-of-ants-carpenter.aspx>.

Vail, Karen M. 2006. "Carpenter Ants". UT Extension Website PB 1599.
University of Tennessee.
28 Dec. 2008, retrieved.
<http://www.utextension.utk.edu/>.

Article Citation

Pararas-Carayannis, Carolyn (2008). Carpenter Ants (Wood Ants): An Introduction to Genus Camponotus and Large Ant Species. Info-Now.Org Website: http://info-now.org/ants/AntSpeciesCarpenter-Intro.php .

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Carpenter Ants (Wood Ants): An Introduction to Genus Camponotus and Large Ant Species by Carolyn Pararas-Carayannis. Educational, informative article with high-definition photos. The first in a three part series (#1-introduction, #2-anatomy, #3-behaviors) about Carpenter Ants, often called "Wood Ants", Genus Camponotus.


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