Camponotus pennsylvanicus

This species is the first North American ant to ever be described. It nests in living and dead trees, rotten logs or stumps in forested areas. This is an important, destructive pest that attacks fences, poles and buildings. This is probably the most destructive carpenter ant in North America (Wheeler and Wheeler 1963), although Creighton (1950) argued that its destructive capacities were somewhat exaggerated and that they only tunnel in decayed wood. It often forages inside homes, making it an important house pest. Reproductives were found in nests from April to October. This species is found in the same logs and stumps as members of the genera Lasius, Formica (i. e. Formica podzolica), and Leptothorax. Workers tend aphids, with the smaller workers collecting honeydew and transferring it to larger workers that carry it back to the nest. In addition, foragers feed on dead insects and plant juices.

Identification
The majors, minors, females, and males of this species are large, black ants without hairs on the cheeks or sides of the head, or posterior lateral corners, the scapes are without erect hairs, except at the apex, the mesosoma has numerous hairs on the dorsal surface, as does the petiole. The gaster has erect hairs scattered over the entire surface, the tibiae are without erect hairs, except for 2 rows along the flexor surface, in which most hairs are present along the apical half. Appressed pubescence is sparse on most surfaces, including the head, and mesosoma, although the hairs on dorsum are more numerous, but few or none overlap adjacent hairs, the side of the propodeum has a few appressed hairs. The hairs on the gaster are long (over 0.02 mm) and abundant, nearly all hairs overlap adjacent hairs, and are nearly as long as the erect hairs on the gaster. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Canada, New Brunswick and Quebec. United States, eastern North America and in the south as far west as New Mexico.

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

Habitat
Primarily a forest species throughout its range, it can also be a pest in homes. For New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002), ranging from prairies to forested areas (ponderosa pine), including riparian habitats with cottonwoods.

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]]