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{{short description|Species of American ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2013}}
{{Speciesbox
{{Taxobox
| name = Black carpenter ant | name = Black carpenter ant
| image = Carpenter ant drone wiki.jpg | image = Camponotus pennsylvanicus casent0103692 profile 1.jpg
| image_caption = ''Camponotus pennsylvanicus'' (winged male) | image_caption = ''Camponotus pennsylvanicus'' worker
| status_system = | status_system =
| status = | status =
⚫ | taxon = Camponotus pennsylvanicus
| regnum = ]ia
|parent=Camponotus (subgenus)
| phylum = ]a
⚫ | authority = (], 1773)
| classis = ]a
| ordo = ]
| familia = ]
| subfamilia = ]
| genus = '']''
| species = '''''C. pennsylvanicus'''''
⚫ | binomial = ''Camponotus pennsylvanicus''
⚫ | binomial_authority = (], 1773)
}} }}
]


The '''black carpenter ant''' ('''''Camponotus pennsylvanicus''''')<ref>{{Cite web|title=Camponotus pennsylvanicus - AntCat|url=https://antcat.org/catalog/433412|access-date=2020-08-28|website=antcat.org}}</ref> is one of the largest and most common species of ] native to the central and eastern ] as well as eastern ].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=BUCZKOWSKI|first=GRZEGORZ|date=2010-11-15|title=Suburban sprawl: environmental features affect colony social and spatial structure in the black carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus|journal=Ecological Entomology|volume=36|issue=1|pages=62–71|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2311.2010.01245.x|issn=0307-6946}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sanders|first=C. J.|title=Seasonal and Daily Activity Patterns of Carpenter Ants (Camponotus SPP.) in Northwestern Ontario (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)|date=November 1972|journal=The Canadian Entomologist|volume=104|issue=11|pages=1681–1687|doi=10.4039/ent1041681-11|issn=0008-347X}}</ref>
The '''black carpenter ant''' (''Camponotus pennsylvanicus'') is a species of ] native to central and eastern ].


==Appearance== ==Description==
]
''C. pennsyln be distinguished from other carpenter ant species by the dull black color of the head and body, and by whitish or yellowish hairs on the ]. All ] of this species (including the major and minor workers, ], and males) are black or blackish. Colonies' workers are not all the same size (]). The queens and the largest workers (also called super majors) are quite large and are some of the largest ants found on the North American continent. As with all ants, the antennae are elbowed. Workers usually have 12 antenna segments. ] typically have yellowish wings. ''C. pennsylvanicus'' can be distinguished from other carpenter ant species by the dull black color of the head and body, and by whitish or yellowish hairs on the ]. All ]s of this species (including the major and minor workers, ]s and males) are black or blackish. Black carpenter ants are ], workers can be in different sizes. The queens can reach a length of 19–21&nbsp;mm and the largest workers (super majors) can achieve similar sizes of around 14–17&nbsp;mm . They, along with several other ''Camponotus'' species, are among the largest species of ant in North America. As with all ants, the antennae are geniculate (elbowed). Workers usually have 12 antenna segments. ]s typically have yellowish wings.{{cn|date=December 2024}}


==Behavior== ==Behavior==
Black carpenter ants are known to forage up to 100 yd (91 m) <!-- (to one d.p.) --> in search of food, establishing chemical (]) trails as they forage. They locate food through their sense of smell.<ref name="springer">{{cite journal |last1=Helmy |first1=O. |last2=Jander |first2=R. |title=Topochemical learning in black carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) |journal=Insectes Sociaux |date=1 February 2003 |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=32–37 |doi=10.1007/s000400300005 |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s000400300005 |language=en |issn=1420-9098}}</ref> Nests can contain thousands of individuals, and such large nests may be noticed by the audible cracking sound the workers produce. The black carpenter ant cannot sting, but the larger workers can administer a sharp bite, which can become further irritated by the spraying of ] onto the wound. Workers tend aphids, with the smaller workers collecting honeydew and transferring it to larger workers that carry it back to the nest. In addition, foragers feed on dead insects and plant juices. Foraging typically occurs at night. <ref name="springer"/>
Black carpenter ants are known to forage up to 100 yd or 91.4 m <!-- (to one d.p.) --> in search of food. Workers are most active at night. They do establish chemical (]) trails. The ants produce crackling sounds that can often be heard near a large nest. A large colony can contain thousands of individuals. The black carpenter ant does not
sting, but the larger workers can administer a sharp bite, which can become further irritated by
the injection of ], which they produce. Workers tend aphids, with the smaller workers collecting honeydew and transferring it to larger workers that carry it back to the nest. In addition, foragers feed on dead insects and plant juices.


==Range== ==Range==


The black carpenter ants range is almost everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains in woodlands, forest edges, and suburban communities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Carpenter Ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus |url=https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Ants/Black-Carpenter-Ant |website=NWF The National Wildlife Federation |accessdate=6 September 2018}}</ref> Black carpenter ants occur almost everywhere east of the ] in woodlands, forest edges, and suburban communities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Carpenter Ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus |url=https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Ants/Black-Carpenter-Ant |website=NWF The National Wildlife Federation |accessdate=6 September 2018}}</ref>


==Control measures== ==Control measures==
In their natural environment, carpenter ants nest in dead trees and other dead wood. This enhances decay, which has ecological benefits. However, the ant achieves pest status when a colony invades the wood of a house or other structure, damaging its structural integrity.<ref>http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/carpant004.shtml Carpenter Ant Management</ref> In their natural environment, carpenter ants nest in dead trees and other dead wood. This enhances decay, which has ecological benefits. However, the ant achieves pest status when a colony invades the wood of a house or other structure, damaging its structural integrity.<ref></ref>


Since they favor moist wood as a habitat, any condition that promotes moisture should be eliminated to prevent infestation. The easiest of these is keeping ] clear so water does not run down the side of the structure or gain entry. Moist wood is much easier to chew. The ants do not eat the wood, but remove it to create galleries for their activities. The galleries run parallel to the grain, as they are created in the softer, nonlignin portions of the timber. The galleries have a sandpaper-like feel, due to fecal remnants, but the mud tubes produced by ] will not be present. Since they favor moist wood as a habitat, any condition that promotes moisture should be eliminated to prevent infestation. The easiest of these is keeping ]s clear so water does not run down the side of the structure or gain entry. Moist wood is much easier to chew. The ants do not eat the wood, but remove it to create galleries for their activities. The galleries run parallel to the grain, as they are created in the softer, non-aligning portions of the timber. The galleries have a sandpaper-like feel, due to fecal remnants, but the mud tubes produced by ]s will not be present.{{cn|date=December 2024}}


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
*{{commonscat-inline|Camponotus pennsylvanicus|''Camponotus pennsylvanicus''}} *{{commons category-inline|Camponotus pennsylvanicus|''Camponotus pennsylvanicus''}}


{{Taxonbar|from=Q3919739}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q3919739}}
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] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 05:03, 6 December 2024

Species of American ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)

Black carpenter ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus worker
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Camponotus
Subgenus: Camponotus
Species: C. pennsylvanicus
Binomial name
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
(De Geer, 1773)

The black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is one of the largest and most common species of carpenter ant native to the central and eastern United States as well as eastern Canada.

Description

Black carpenter ant male

C. pennsylvanicus can be distinguished from other carpenter ant species by the dull black color of the head and body, and by whitish or yellowish hairs on the abdomen. All castes of this species (including the major and minor workers, queens and males) are black or blackish. Black carpenter ants are polymorphic, workers can be in different sizes. The queens can reach a length of 19–21 mm and the largest workers (super majors) can achieve similar sizes of around 14–17 mm . They, along with several other Camponotus species, are among the largest species of ant in North America. As with all ants, the antennae are geniculate (elbowed). Workers usually have 12 antenna segments. Alates typically have yellowish wings.

Behavior

Black carpenter ants are known to forage up to 100 yd (91 m) in search of food, establishing chemical (pheromone) trails as they forage. They locate food through their sense of smell. Nests can contain thousands of individuals, and such large nests may be noticed by the audible cracking sound the workers produce. The black carpenter ant cannot sting, but the larger workers can administer a sharp bite, which can become further irritated by the spraying of formic acid onto the wound. Workers tend aphids, with the smaller workers collecting honeydew and transferring it to larger workers that carry it back to the nest. In addition, foragers feed on dead insects and plant juices. Foraging typically occurs at night.

Range

Black carpenter ants occur almost everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains in woodlands, forest edges, and suburban communities.

Control measures

In their natural environment, carpenter ants nest in dead trees and other dead wood. This enhances decay, which has ecological benefits. However, the ant achieves pest status when a colony invades the wood of a house or other structure, damaging its structural integrity.

Since they favor moist wood as a habitat, any condition that promotes moisture should be eliminated to prevent infestation. The easiest of these is keeping gutters clear so water does not run down the side of the structure or gain entry. Moist wood is much easier to chew. The ants do not eat the wood, but remove it to create galleries for their activities. The galleries run parallel to the grain, as they are created in the softer, non-aligning portions of the timber. The galleries have a sandpaper-like feel, due to fecal remnants, but the mud tubes produced by termites will not be present.

References

  1. "Camponotus pennsylvanicus - AntCat". antcat.org. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  2. BUCZKOWSKI, GRZEGORZ (2010-11-15). "Suburban sprawl: environmental features affect colony social and spatial structure in the black carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus". Ecological Entomology. 36 (1): 62–71. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.2010.01245.x. ISSN 0307-6946.
  3. Sanders, C. J. (November 1972). "Seasonal and Daily Activity Patterns of Carpenter Ants (Camponotus SPP.) in Northwestern Ontario (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". The Canadian Entomologist. 104 (11): 1681–1687. doi:10.4039/ent1041681-11. ISSN 0008-347X.
  4. ^ Helmy, O.; Jander, R. (1 February 2003). "Topochemical learning in black carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)". Insectes Sociaux. 50 (1): 32–37. doi:10.1007/s000400300005. ISSN 1420-9098.
  5. "Black Carpenter Ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus". NWF The National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  6. Carpenter Ant Management

External links

Taxon identifiers
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Categories: