5 replies to this topic

[Arcais]

1. Location (on a map) of collection:  Volcano, CA - Which is near Pioneer and Sutter Creek
2. Date of collection:  9/29
3. Habitat of collection:  Rotting oak logs
4. Length (from head to gaster):  ~19 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:   Black and glossy all over.  All workers were glossy and black as well.
6. Distinguishing characteristics:  Large, black, glossy, Large jaws
7. Distinguishing behavior:  Its was about 86 degrees, they were very fast.
8. Nest description: Oak logs

9. Nuptial flight time and date:  didn't witness a flight

 

My parents have 5.5 acres in Volcano, CA and its mostly a wooded area with pines and oaks.  Tons and tons of ants and ant mounds can be seen everywhere.  There are also stacks of pine and oak logs as well as some fallen trees.

 

These were the largest of the different ants I saw and were all over the oak logs and in some rotten stumps.
 

 

my guess is camponotus laevigatus... probably wrong but I figure they are at least camponotus.

 

[Ender Ants]

Looks to be Camponotus. I am not too familiar with Camponotus species, but if I were to guess myself, I would say Camponotus cf. laevigatus. Most likely it is, since I have found majors of that species that look exactly like it

[Arcais]

Thank you.  I might have gotten it right then

[YsTheAnt]

Head size and absence of white hairs on the taster leads me to believe that this is Camponotus quercicola.

[Arcais]

Actually, I can't see any white hairs on the ones I have.  I was looks at Nurbs video () and they do look a lot like those.  When their gasters are banded like they are in the video, does that mean they are full of food to share?

 

Wonder if that is nectar or bloodworm soup they are eating?

[YsTheAnt]

Quercicolas don’t have hair, unlike C. laevigatus. I am fairly sure C. quercicola is what your queen is. The video shown is them drinking hummingbird nectar, which causes the banded gaster filled with food.