Camponotus modoc

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Camponotus modoc
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Subgenus: Camponotus
Species complex: herculeanus
Species: C. modoc
Binomial name
Camponotus modoc
Wheeler, W.M., 1910

Camponotus modoc casent0005347 profile 1.jpg

Camponotus modoc casent0005347 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Nests in rotten logs and stumps, or rarely under stones. They may also nest in the wood of buildings, especially log cabins in forested areas.


Photo Gallery

  • Worker tending aphids (Cinara species) on low vegetation, Packer Saddle, California. Photo by Tom Murray.
  • 2023-VI-25, Durango, CO. La Plata County. 37.35013, -107.69339 Photo by Zane Holditch

Identification

The following information is derived from Mackay, New World Carpenter Ants (2019)

Compare with Camponotus herculeanus, Camponotus laevigatus, Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Camponotus schaefferi, Camponotus texanus.

The majors, minors and females of C. modoc are predominantly black, dull ants. The scapes are without erect and suberect setae (except at apex), the setae on the clypeus are located mostly along the borders, the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the head have few erect and suberect setae, the cheeks and sides of the head are without erect and suberect setae. Most surfaces have golden, appressed setae, which are scarce on the head and mesosoma and slightly more abundant on the gaster, where at least a few of the appressed setae overlap adjacent setae, but most are less than half (> than 0.15 mm) the length of the erect and suberect setae. The appressed setae on the gaster are mostly short and may be even absent in some specimens.

The males are moderately large (10 mm total length), black ants.

Comparisons

Camponotus modoc has been considered to be a subspecies of either Camponotus herculeanus or Camponotus pennsylvanicus. Brown (1950) supported Creighton’s (1950) recognition of C. modoc as separate from C. pennsylvanicus (S Canada, US) but considered it to be more similar to C. herculeanus (S Canada, US). It has been shown to be genetically similar to C. pennsylvanicus (Sämi Schär, et al., 2018). It can usually be separated from both of these species as the appressed setae on the gaster are much shorter (< 0.15 mm) than the erect and suberect setae (about equal in length in the other 2 species, or > 0.15 mm). The appressed setae on the mesosoma of C. modoc are sparse and do not overlap adjacent setae, whereas the appressed setae on the mesosoma of the other 2 species are abundant and even extend to the lateral surface of the propodeum and many setae overlap adjacent setae. There is considerable geographic variation of the length of the setae (see Camponotus pennsylvanicus for further discussion). The scapes of the majors of C. modoc extend nearly 1 funicular segment past the posterior lateral corner, which separates it from C. herculeanus in which the scape of the largest majors barely surpasses the posterolateral corner of the head. Camponotus herculeanus can also be separated from C. modoc by the color (C. modoc usually has red legs and at least part of the mesosoma is usually reddish). There is a considerable amount of variability in all characters and these 2 taxa can be nearly indistinguishable.

The clypeus of C. modoc has weakly developed angles along the anterior border, similar to those of Camponotus schaefferi (Arizona, New Mexico) and Camponotus texanus (W Texas). Camponotus modoc can be easily separated from these two species as the side of the mesosoma is dull and punctated, not nearly smooth and glossy as in the latter two species.

Specimens of C. modoc from Mexico have very short appressed setae on the gaster. Specimens that completely lack appressed setae on the dorsum of the gaster are possibly Camponotus laevigatus.

Distribution

The following information is derived from Mackay, New World Carpenter Ants (2019)

Camponotus modoc is found near sea level in Washington and British Columbia, but is subalpine further south (Wheeler, 1917c). It is found in forests (Cole, 1942), and in a variety of habitats, ranging from grassland, birch and chokecherry thickets, in juniper, pinyon pine and sagebrush hills, hedges, deciduous forests, cottonwood, oak, beach, pine, fir, spruce and aspen forests, wet grassy meadows, hardwood forests, riparian forests, subalpine fir and spruce forests, burned sagebrush and burned lodgepole pine forests. It is also found in ponderosa pine, pine-spruce popular up to subalpine forests (Mackay and Mackay, 2002). Palladini et al. (2007) found it most prevalent in older stands of temperate coniferous forests.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 59.471332° to 23.672113°.

   
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: Canada, United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
pChart

Biology

The following information is derived from Mackay, New World Carpenter Ants (2019)

Camponotus modoc nests in wood (Mackay and Mackay, 2002), specifically under the bark and in logs, stumps and standing dead trees, especially conifers. The wood is often rotten, with loose bark. They rarely nest in the soil, sometimes in soil at the base of stump, rarely under stones (Mackay and Mackay, 2002), wood or pieces of bark. Gregg (1963) concludes they more commonly nest under stones than in logs in Colorado. We have also found that they often nest under large stones, especially in the northern part of range (Montana, Canada). One colony may have been in a large soil mound (Gregg, 1963).

They occur in soils ranging from clay loam, dark brown loam, rocky clay, rocky loam, sandy soil to rocky sand.

Colonies are huge (Wheeler, 1917c) and contain multiple nest queens. Workers generally escape when the nest is opened, but workers in large nests can be aggressive.

Sexuals and brood are found in nests from March (Mexico) - October (USA), suggesting that sexuals overwinter in the nest. A flight occurred in June at 19:00. Dealate females were collected in June - October, often under stones or under loose bark of logs and stumps.

Foragers are primarily nocturnal (VabLaerhoven et al., 2003; Hansen and Klotz, 2005), but are also diurnal predators (Bibionidae) from 10:00 - 18:30 and are often collected in pitfall traps. Camponotus modoc tends aphids (Jones, 1929). They collect aphid honeydew and Valeriana edulis floral nectar (Petry et al., 2013). Foragers remove petals from Rhododendron macrophyllum and collect nectar from the base of the flower (Weiser, 2002). They prey on the western spruce budworm pest, Choristoneura occidentalis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) (Youngs and Campbell, 1984). They are able to forage at lower temperatures than many other species of ants (Palladini et al., 2007).

Myrmecophilus sp. crickets were found in nests (Chihuahua, Mexico). Reemer (2012) discusses the parasitism by the syrphid fly parasite Microdon sp. It is the principal host of the Microdon piperi, which is also found with other species of Camponotus (Akre et al., 1988). The larvae mimic and feed on the ant brood, and their life cycle is synchronized with the brood cycle of the host (Akre et al., 1988).

They have been impacted by the recent invasion of Myrmica rubra into British Columbia but are able to attack columns of the Myrmica workers (Naumann and Higgins, 2015).

Hansen et al (1999) describe the infrabuccal chamber and survey the contained bacteria.

The use of artificial nests showed that colony founding queen survivorship of Camponotus vicinus was less sensitive to moisture levels than were C. modoc queens (Mankowslki and Morrell, 2011).

Camponotus modoc is a principal structural pest in western United States, excavating nests in structural timber, fiberglass, foam insulation, and make distracting noise in the walls of houses (Hansen and Klotz, 2005).

The specimen from Phoenix, AZ was in an apitong (Dipterocarpus) board from the Philippines.

Additional Notes

Mackay and Mackay (2002), in New Mexico: Found in forested areas, ranging from deciduous through pinyon pine and ponderosa pine, pine-spruce-popular and spruce forests up to subalpine fir (2490 - 3000 meters altitude). Brood and reproductives occurred in nests from June to September, dealate females were found from July to October. Workers escape with brood when the nest is disturbed, and are preyed on by members of the Formica rufa species complex. One colony was nesting together with Formica argentea, another with Formica hewitti, a third with Formica neoclara. Another colony was together with Tapinoma sessile.

Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - C. modoc is strictly a montane ant: 59 records were from the Coniferous Forest Biome, 7 were from the ecotone above, and 3 were from the Alpine. We have nest data for only 18 colonies: all were nesting in rotten wood. Medias and minors were found tending aphids on small pine branches. Steller's jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) and robins (Turdus migratorius) fed on sexual forms during a mating flight on 18 July in the Coniferous Forest Biome. The myrmecophile Xenodusa reflexa (Walker) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae; del. L.M. Chilson) was taken in a nest.

Flight Period

X X X X
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Source: antkeeping.info. Notes: Washington (May).

Association with Other Organisms

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • This species is a xenobiont for the ant Leptothorax calderoni (a xenobiont) in United States (Kanizsai et al., 2013; Wheeler, 1917) (Pine forest. In log/in stump.).
  • This species is a mutualist for the aphid Aphis lugentis (a trophobiont) (Jones, 1927; Saddiqui et al., 2019).
  • This species is a host for the Microdon fly Microdon albicomatus (a predator) in Idaho (type), Washington (Novak, 1977).
  • This species is a host for the Microdon fly Microdon piperi (a predator) in Oregon, Montana, Washington (type) (Knab, 1917).
  • This species is a prey for the Microdon fly Microdon piperi (a predator) (Quevillon, 2018).

Castes

Minor Worker

Mcz-ent00668318 Camponotus modoc worker hef.jpgMcz-ent00668318 Camponotus modoc worker hal.jpgMcz-ent00668318 Camponotus modoc worker had.jpgMcz-ent00668318 Camponotus modoc worker lbs.JPG
Worker (minor). . Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Major Worker

Mcz-ent00668319 Camponotus modoc soldier hef.jpgMcz-ent00668319 Camponotus modoc soldier hal.jpgMcz-ent00668319 Camponotus modoc soldier had.jpgMcz-ent00668319 Camponotus modoc soldier lbs.JPG
Worker (major). . Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Queen

Mcz-ent00668328 Camponotus modoc queen hef.jpgMcz-ent00668328 Camponotus modoc queen hal.jpgMcz-ent00668328 Camponotus modoc queen had.jpgMcz-ent00668328 Camponotus modoc queen lbs.JPG
Queen. . Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Male

Mcz-ent00670261 Camponotus modoc male hef.jpgMcz-ent00670261 Camponotus modoc male hal.jpgMcz-ent00670261 Camponotus modoc male had.jpgMcz-ent00670261 Camponotus modoc male lbs.JPG
Male. . Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • modoc. Camponotus (Camponotus) herculeanus var. modoc Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 333 (s.w.q.m.) U.S.A. (California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, South Dakota), CANADA (British Columbia).
    • Combination in C. (Camponotus): Emery, 1925b: 72.
    • Subspecies of herculeanus: Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 557; Emery, 1925b: 72; Essig, 1926: 868; Cole, 1936a: 39; Cole, 1942: 388; Brown, 1950d: 158; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 840; Cole, 1954f: 271; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 142; Beck, et al. 1967: 68; Smith, M.R. 1967: 366.
    • Subspecies of pennsylvanicus: Menozzi, 1932b: 311; Creighton, 1950a: 369.
    • Status as species: Hunt & Snelling, R.R. 1975: 22; Yensen, et al. 1977: 184; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1978: 392; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1426; Allred, 1982: 455; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 61; Mackay, Lowrie, et al. 1988: 106; Bolton, 1995b: 112; Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 295; Hansen & Klotz, 2005: 84; Ward, 2005: 63; Mackay, 2019: 259 (redescription).

Type Material

Numerous specimens collected from a variety of US states. Despite the range of locations Wheeler stated California is the type locality. Not found by Mackay (2019).

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Major worker measurements (mm): HL 2.22 - 3.18, HW 2.06 - 3.70, SL 2.14 - 2.70, EL 0.51 - 0.70, CL 0.66 - 1.11, CW 0.90 - 1.29, WL 2.98 - 4.02, FFL 1.84 - 2.50, FFW 0.58 - 0.79. Indices: CI 93 - 116, SI 81 - 96, CLI 116 - 143, FFI 26 - 32.

Mandible with 5 teeth; anterior border of clypeus straight or concave with distinct depressed anteclypeus, lateral angles poorly developed; head strongly narrowed anteriorly, greatly widened posteriorly, posterior margin slightly concave; eyes small, failing to reach sides of head by ½ to more than 1 maximum diameter; scape extending past posterior lateral corner of head by nearly 1 - 2 funicular segments; mesosoma massive, metanotum well defined; dorsopropodeum slightly shorter than posteropropodeum, with slight angle between two faces, propodeal spiracle elongate; petiole narrow in profile, apex weakly convex as seen from front.

Erect and suberect setae present on clypeus, mostly along borders, present along frontal carinae, extending to posterior margin, absent on cheeks, side of head, scapes (except at apex), few setae on ventral surface of head, few setae scattered on dorsum of mesosoma, moderately abundant on gaster, absent on tibiae, except for double row of bristles on flexor surface (some specimens have suberect setae on all of surface); appressed pubescence sparse, scattered on head (0.08 mm), dorsum of mesosoma and dorsum of gaster, often short (0.02 - 0.15 mm, ¼ - ½ length of erect and suberect setae), setae not overlapping adjacent setae on most surfaces, except for gaster, where some setae touch adjacent setae.

Head densely and evenly punctate, with larger, scattered punctures on sides of head, mesosoma densely and evenly punctate, gaster finely transversely striolate, surfaces dull, except for side of head, which is weakly shining.

Black, cheeks dark reddish brown, legs red, parts of mesosoma and petiole may be red.

Minor worker measurements (mm): HL 1.70 - 2.36, HW 1.50 - 2.18, SL 1.78 - 2.46, EL 0.43- 0.58, CL 0.51- 0.75, CW 0.80 - 1.05, WL 2.44 - 3.30, FFL 1.50 - 2.08, FFW 0.46 - 0.66. Indices: CI 88 - 96, SI 95 - 113, CLI 140 - 156, FFI 30 - 33.

Similar to major, except sides of head nearly parallel, narrowed anteriorly with rounded sides; scape extends about ½ length past posterior lateral corner of head, eyes nearly reach sides of head, posterior margin weakly convex to concave.

Pilosity, sculpture and color as in major worker.

Female measurements (mm): HL 2.92 - 3.16, HW 3.12- 3.44, SL 2.46 - 2.76, EL 0.71 - 0.89, CL 0.91 - 1.11, CW 1.28 - 1.40, WL 5.12 - 5.56, FFL 2.40 - 2.76, FFW 0.75 - 0.84. Indices: CI 107 - 109, SI 84 - 87, CLI 121 - 140, FFI 30 - 31.

Mandible with 5 teeth; clypeus as in major worker; sides of head straight, converging anteriorly, posterior margin convex to slightly concave; eyes failing to reach sides of head by about ¼ - ½ minimum diameter; ocelli well developed; scape extending slightly more than 1 funicular segment past posterior lateral corner of head; propodeum rounded with dorsopropodeum shorter than posteropropodeum; petiole narrow in profile, apex relatively sharp.

Erect and suberect setae, and appressed pubescence as in major, except appressed setae on gaster tiny (0.03 mm); sculpture and color as in major.

Male measurements (mm): HL 1.45 - 1.47, HW 1.34 - 1.36, SL 1.68 - 1.74, EL 0.50 - 0.51, CL 0.38 - 0.41, CW 0.64 - 0.66, WL 3.04 - 3.36, FFL 2.08 - 2.08, FFW 0.45 - 0.47. Indices: CI 92 - 93, SI 115 - 119, CLI 158 - 173, FFI 22.

Small, dark specimen, not differing noticeably from those of other species.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Allred D. M. 1982. Ants of Utah. The Great Basin Naturalist 42: 415-511.
  • Allred, D.M. 1982. The ants of Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 42:415-511.
  • Beck D. E., D. M. Allred, W. J. Despain. 1967. Predaceous-scavenger ants in Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 27: 67-78
  • Blacker, N.C. 1992. Some Ants from Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. J. Entomol. Soc. Bri. Columbia 89:3-12.
  • Blacker, N.C. 1992. Some ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 89:3-12
  • Cole A. C., Jr. 1942. The ants of Utah. American Midland Naturalist 28: 358-388.
  • Cole, A.C. 1936. An annotated list of the ants of Idaho (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). Canadian Entomologist 68(2):34-39
  • Cover S. P., and R. A. Johnson. 20011. Checklist of Arizona Ants. Downloaded on January 7th at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/AZants-2011%20updatev2.pdf
  • Gregg, R.T. 1963. The Ants of Colorado.
  • Higgins J. W., N. S. Cobb, S. Sommer, R. J. Delph, and S. L. Brantley. 2014. Ground-dwelling arthropod responses to succession in a pinyon-juniper woodland. Ecosphere 5(1):5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00270.1
  • Hoey-Chamberlain R. V., L. D. Hansen, J. H. Klotz and C. McNeeley. 2010. A survey of the ants of Washington and Surrounding areas in Idaho and Oregon focusing on disturbed sites (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology. 56: 195-207
  • Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
  • La Rivers I. 1968. A first listing of the ants of Nevada. Biological Society of Nevada, Occasional Papers 17: 1-12.
  • Lidgren, B.S. and A.M. MacIsaac. 2002. A Preliminary Study of Ant Diversity and of Ant Dependence on Dead Wood in Central Interior British Columbia. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-181.
  • Lindgren, B.S. and A.M. MacIsaac. 2002. Ant dependence on dead wood in Central Interior British Columbia. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep.PSW-GTR-181
  • Longino, J.T. 2010. Personal Communication. Longino Collection Database
  • Mackay, W. P., Lowrie, D., Fisher, A., Mackay, E. E., Barnes, F. 1988. The ants of Los Alamos County, New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pp. 79-131 in: Trager, J. C. (ed.) Advances in myrmecology. Leiden: E. J. Brill, xxvii + 551 pp.
  • Mackay W. P. and Mackay, E. E. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
  • Mallis A. 1941. A list of the ants of California with notes on their habits and distribution. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 40: 61-100. 
  • Michigan State University, The Albert J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection. Accessed on January 7th 2014 at http://www.arc.ent.msu.edu:8080/collection/index.jsp
  • Parson G. L., G Cassis, A. R. Moldenke, J. D. Lattin, N. H. Anderson, J. C. Miller, P. Hammond, T. Schowalter. 1991. Invertebrates of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, western Cascade Range, Oregon. V: An annotated list of insects and other arthropods. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-290. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 168 p.
  • Rees D. M., and A. W. Grundmann. 1940. A preliminary list of the ants of Utah. Bulletin of the University of Utah, 31(5): 1-12.
  • Smith F. 1941. A list of the ants of Washington State. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 17(1): 23-28.
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
  • Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler. 1986. The ants of Nevada. Los Angeles: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, vii + 138 pp.
  • Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler. 1987. A Checklist of the Ants of South Dakota. Prairie Nat. 19(3): 199-208.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1910. The North American ants of the genus Camponotus Mayr. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 20: 295-354.
  • Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1978. Mountain ants of Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 35(4):379-396
  • Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1988. A checklist of the ants of Montana. Psyche 95:101-114
  • Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1988. A checklist of the ants of Wyoming. Insecta Mundi 2(3&4):230-239
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