Camponotus senex

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Camponotus senex
Camponotus senex 253542719.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Camponotus
Subgenus: Myrmobrachys
Species:
C. senex
Binomial name
Camponotus senex
Smith, 1858

Camponotus senex is a fairly common species of weaver ant from the New World. They are opportunistic cavity-dwellers, semi-nomadic carpenter ants which are found around grasslands in Central and South America. [1] [2] It is taxonomically believed to be a complex of cryptic species and was previously considered synonymous with Camponotus textor which once included a distantly-related species of weaver-ant. [3]

Ecology

C. senex are medium-sized and agile, and can be frequently found inside the abandoned outer crusts of termite nests. They can inflict a respectable bite when handled carelessly. They are, however, not aggressive, and their nests tend to be sparse and mainly composed of satellite, queenless temporary nests under stones or bark. [2] Very little is known about their biology as C. senex remains a poorly studied species, in spite of being so common. [3]

The development of C. senex undergoes four larval instars. The larvae are typical Camponotus larvae: plump and hairy larvae that will spin a cocoon. They contain anchor-tipped dorsal hairs when mature, which may signals for a morphological adaptation to be hung inside the ant nest. They are the only ants apart from fire ants to present solenopsin alkaloids in their venom. [3]

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<i>Camponotus nearcticus</i> Species of relatively small carpenter ant

Camponotus nearcticus, commonly named smaller carpenter ant, is a relatively small carpenter ant. Its appearance is similar to Lasius niger, commonly named the black garden ant. The ant is a household pest.

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Camponotus vittatus is a species of carpenter ant and one of the most common ants found around households in South America, particularly Brazil. It was originally described by Auguste Forel in 1904. The species is relatively large, caramel-coloured, omnivorous, and fast-moving. The species presents four larval stages which will spin a cocoon to pupate. The hairs of Camponotus larvae are quite abundant, and may present taxonomic importance. The larvae of both sexes are similar, with few diagnostic traits, such as the acquired shape towards pupation inside their cocoons.

Camponotus textor, also known as Brazilian weaver ant, is a species of fairly common tree-dwelling ant native to South and Central America. It is believed to include a number of cryptic species, and previously were considered synonymous to the cavity-dwelling ant Camponotus senex, now thought to be only distantly-related.

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References

  1. Morini, Maria Santina de Castro; Silva, Otávio Guilherme Morais da; Souza-Campana, Débora Rodrigues de; Silva, Rogério R.; Fernandes, Tae Tanaami; Morini, Maria Santina de Castro; Silva, Otávio Guilherme Morais da; Souza-Campana, Débora Rodrigues de; Silva, Rogério R. (2019). "Winged ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) presence in twigs on the leaf litter of Atlantic Forest". Biota Neotropica. 19 (3). doi: 10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2018-0694 . ISSN   1676-0603.
  2. 1 2 Fernandes, Tae Tanaami; Silva, Rogério Rosa da; Souza, Débora Rodrigues de; Araújo, Natália; Morini, Maria Santina de Castro (2012). "Undecomposed Twigs in the Leaf Litter as Nest-Building Resources for Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Areas of the Atlantic Forest in the Southeastern Region of Brazil". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 2012: 1–8. doi: 10.1155/2012/896473 . ISSN   0033-2615.
  3. 1 2 3 Fox, Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson; Solis, Daniel Russ; Lazoski, Cristiano; Mackay, William (2017-08-01). "Weaving through a cryptic species: Comparing the Neotropical ants Camponotus senex and Camponotus textor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Micron. 99: 56–66. doi:10.1016/j.micron.2017.03.016. hdl: 11449/162839 . ISSN   0968-4328.