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Camponotus pennsylvanicus
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. Colonies have workers that are not all the same size (polymorphism). The antennae are elbowed, usually with 6-13 segments. Workers on average range from 1-2 cm long. Black carpenter ants are known to forage up to 100 yards in search of food. Workers are most active at night, traveling from their nest to a food source following trails. They do establish chemical (pheromone) trails. The ants produce crackling sounds that can often be heard near a large nest. A large colony can have 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 formic acid, which they produce. Black carpenter ants are fiercely territorial with regard to other ants. Black carpenter ants do not eat or digest wood, but they tunnel through wood, which can cause structural damage. Black carpenter ants are omnivorous. They can eat a great variety of both animal and plant foods, including plant juices, fruits, living or dead insects, other small invertebrates, common sweets such as syrup, honey, jelly, sugar, and fruit, and most kinds of meat, grease, and fat. Unlike termites, they cannot digest wood cellulose.
Leaf litter in woods.
1 cm long.
3 Comments
Ants use their keen senses to communicate with colony members. They produce chemicals called pheromones which are sensed by other ants using their antennae. They can also use their antennae or other body parts to send messages through touch. Touch messages are transmitted through stridulations, which are sounds and vibrations generated by one ant rubbing its body parts together. These forms of communication relay different messages, such as where food is located or what dangers are present. Added to the NWF mission for its super senses.
The wiki link shows a photo of a winged male but I don't know if they all start out that way or it is just certain workers. It sound like you have ants though as termites look very different - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/900...
Do these start out with wings? This is the second year that the house I'm renting has been swarmed with what looks like flying ants. I thought they were termites last year when I saw them around the middle of March. The swarm returned again today, but I'm not so sure they're termites. They're a month early this year!