Camponotus schaefferi

This carpenter ant nests in dead oak limbs and inside living trunks of half-dead Emory oaks. They are very agile and difficult to capture.

Identification
This is an unusual member of the subgenus Camponotus. The teeth on the anterior border of the clypeus are well-developed, the sides of the head of the major are nearly parallel, or even slightly wider anterior to the eyes, the scapes have erect hairs, but the remainder of the ant has few erect hairs, and the anterior and posterior faces of the petiole are nearly parallel. The entire ant is yellowish-brown or reddish brown. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Arizona and New Mexico.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.



Habitat
Scrubby ponderosa pine, Arizona oak, oak pine-juniper woods, oak foothills, from elevations of 1,520 - 2,440 m. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Nomenclature

 *  schaefferi. Camponotus schaefferi Wheeler, W.M. 1909e: 88 (s.w.q.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 344 (s.). Combination in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1920b: 257; in C. (Camponotus): Forel, 1914a: 266; Creighton, 1950a: 371.