Camponotus sayi

In the southwestern part of its range (New Mexico) this species occurs in arid ecosystems where it nests in mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and oaks (Quercus spp.), such as dead limbs (2 - 8 cm diameter) of Quercus arizonica, Q. emoryi and Q. grisea, about 2 meters above soil surface. Dealate females begin nests in such limbs. It is a minor house pest in some areas. Reproductives were found in nests in April. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Identification
Major workers of this species have a well defined notch on the anterior border of the clypeus, usually have 2 erect hairs along the basal border of the clypeus, the cheeks and the malar area are without erect hairs, the pronotum is usually without erect hairs, but they have as many as 4, the dorsum of the mesosoma is very weakly convex, or even straight, the angle of the propodeum is relatively sharp as seen in profile, the petiole is narrow, with sharp apex, the head and mesosoma are usually red, the gaster is black. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

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

Habitat
In New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002): Chihuahuan Desert, arroyos with hackberry (Celtis), cottonwoods (Populus) in other areas habitats range from prairies to oak-hickory forests, scrubby juniper-pinyon-oak woodland or scrubby ponderosa pine on rocky slopes next to washes, steep, shaded stream banks of seasonal creek valleys with scattered sycamores, walnuts, junipers and large Quercus grisea.

Biology
Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - We have 26 scattered Nevada records from 10 localities. Three records are from the Pinyon-Juniper Biome (but 2 of those are from riparian cottonwood groves). For the remainder no data were given, except that 5 were from houses and 1 under elm bark in Las Vegas and 5 were in houses in Reno. No nests were found.

Nomenclature

 *  sayi. Camponotus sayi Emery, 1893i: 679, pl. 22, figs. 27, 28 (s.w.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 343 (s.w.). Combination in C. (Camponotus): Forel, 1914a: 266; in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1920b: 257. See also: Snelling, R.R. 1988: 72.