Camponotus pennsylvanicus

This species of carpenter ant is common from the north and southeast to the midwest. It is a major structural pest of wood frame buildings and is a general scavenger, feeding on secretions from homopterans and preying on insects.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: Canada, United States. Neotropical Region: Bermuda.

Nomenclature

 *  pennsylvanicus. Formica pensylvanica De Geer, 1773: 603, pl. 31, figs. 9, 10 (s.w.q.m.) U.S.A. [Spelling justifiably emended to pennsylvanica: Buckley, 1866: 155.] Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953e: 187 (l.). Combination in Camponotus: Mayr, 1862: 666; in C. (Camponotus): Forel, 1914a: 266. Subspecies of herculeanus: Forel, 1879a: 57; Mayr, 1886d: 420; Wheeler, W.M. 1913c: 117; Wheeler, W.M. 1917i: 465; Wheeler, W.M. 1932a: 13; Buren, 1944a: 293. Status as species: Ruzsky, 1896: 67; Forel, 1901h: 70; Forel, 1907e: 10; Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 335; Emery, 1920b: 255; Creighton, 1950a: 367; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1427. Senior synonym of semipunctata: Mayr, 1886d: 420; of herculeanopennsylvanicus (and its junior synonym mahican): Creighton, 1950a: 367.
 * semipunctata. Formica semipunctata Kirby, W. 1837: 262 (q.) U.S.A. Combination in Camponotus: Roger, 1863b: 43. Junior synonym of pennsylvanicus: Mayr, 1886d: 420. See also: Creighton, 1950a: 367, who associates this name with herculeanus.
 * herculeanopennsylvanicus. Camponotus herculeanus var. herculeanopennsylvanicus Forel, 1879a: 57 (w.) U.S.A. Senior synonym of mahican (unnecessary replacement name): Emery, 1925b: 72. Junior synonym of pennsylvanicus: Creighton, 1950a: 367.
 * mahican. Camponotus herculeanus var. mahican Emery, 1925b: 72 (s.w.) U.S.A. [First available use of Camponotus herculeanus subsp. pennsylvanicus var. mahican Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 338; unavailable name.] Unnecessary replacement name for herculeanopennsylvanicus and hence junior synonym of the latter: Bolton, 1995b: 110. See also: Creighton, 1950a: 367; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 842.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Blum 1984b.pdf|Hermann, H. R.; Blum, M. S.; Wheeler, J. W.; Overal, W. L.; Schmidt, J. O.; Chao, J. 1984. Comparative anatomy and chemistry of the venom apparatus and mandibular glands in Dinoponera grandis (Guérin) and Paraponera clavata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 77: 272-279 PDF]]