Location: O'Neill Regional Park, Orange County, California.
Habitat: Oak forest.
Coloration, hue and pattern: Dark red head, brownish red thorax, brownish yellow legs and front half of gaster, and black rear half of gaster.
Length: 10mm.
I caught this Camponotus essigi queen in Southern California, May 3rd 2013, climbing up a tree trunk, shortly after dark on a very hot day.
Original ID thread: https://www.formicul...ty-ca-4-26-2013
![gallery_2_38_23166.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/gallery/album_38/gallery_2_38_23166.jpg)
![gallery_2_38_47751.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/gallery/album_38/gallery_2_38_47751.jpg)
![gallery_2_38_31013.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/gallery/album_38/gallery_2_38_31013.jpg)
![gallery_2_38_58002.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/gallery/album_38/gallery_2_38_58002.jpg)
![gallery_2_38_45977.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/gallery/album_38/gallery_2_38_45977.jpg)
She started laying eggs the next day, and now has five of them.
![gallery_2_38_2318.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/gallery/album_38/gallery_2_38_2318.jpg)
![gallery_2_38_45127.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/gallery/album_38/gallery_2_38_45127.jpg)