Camponotus sansabeanus



This species of carpenter ant builds nests deep in the ground, often under rocks at the surface. It is polymoprhic with larger darker majors and light-yellow colored minors. Colonies are often found in desert regions and foraging is nocturnal.

Identification
Majors have wide heads, and the scape usually just reaches the posterior lateral corner of the head, or passes the posterior lateral corner by less than the first funicular segment. Erect hairs on the head are mostly restricted to the clypeus, but can be found on other parts of the head, and even the sides of the head and ventral surface of the head. The base of the scape is flattened and may even be lobe-like. The color ranges from pale yellow to black, most specimens are bicolored with the head darker than the remainder of the ant. Females are similar, except the scapes are relatively longer and the head is usually noticeably widened near the level of the eye. The petiole of the female is slender in profile, with a sharp apex, the anterior face near the apex is slightly concave. The scape of the male is not flattened at the base. Specimens from southeastern Arizona (Cochise Co.) and western New Mexico (Grant Co.) often have erect hairs along the sides of the head. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico.

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

Habitat
In New Mexico, where this ant is common (Mackay and Mackay 2002): Sagebrush, pinyon-juniper (most common in this habitat), oaks, ponderosa pine, Chihuahuan pine, rocky ridges near pines.

Biology
For New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002): The nests are usually found under stones, but may be in (and under) rotten stumps and logs, or even under cow manure (especially founding gynes and young nests), in rocky, gravely or loam soils. Brood and reproductives were found in nests in August and September. Dealate females were found in March, May and June and September. This species forages diurnally. Workers are timid and escape when the nest is disturbed. One colony was nesting together with Forelius.

Castes

 * Worker

Nomenclature

 *  sansabeanus. Formica sansabeana Buckley, 1866: 167 (s.w.q.m.) U.S.A. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953e: 196 (l.). Combination in Camponotus: Mayr, 1886c: 365; in C. (Myrmoturba): Forel, 1914a: 267; in C. (Camponotus): Emery, 1920b: 255; in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Creighton, 1950a: 378. Junior synonym of marginatus: Mayr, 1886d: 423. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of marginatus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 242. Subspecies of maculatus: Emery, 1896d: 371; Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 307. Revived status as species: Emery, 1920b: 232 (footnote); Cole, 1942: 387; Creighton, 1950a: 378. Senior synonym of bulimosus, torrefactus: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 14.
 * bulimosus. Camponotus maculatus subsp. bulimosus Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 308 (s.w.q.m.) U.S.A. Combination in C. (Myrmoturba): Forel, 1914a: 267; in C. (Camponotus): Emery, 1925b: 75; in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Creighton, 1950a: 379. Subspecies of sansabeanus: Emery, 1920b: 232 (footnote); Creighton, 1950a: 379. Junior synonym of sansabeanus: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 14.
 * torrefactus. Camponotus (Camponotus) sansabeanus var. torrefactus Emery, 1925b: 75 (s.w.m.) U.S.A. [First available use of Camponotus maculatus subsp. sansabeanus var. torrefactus Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 308; unavailable name.] Combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Creighton, 1950a: 379. Subspecies of sansabeanus: Cole, 1942: 388; Creighton, 1950a: 379. Junior synonym of sansabeanus: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 14.