Camponotus obscuripes

This species is found in forested areas. It nests in dead portions of standing trees or in rotting wood. The black woodpecker Dryocopus martius feeds preferentially on C. obscuripes in Hokkaido, Japan (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification
This species resembles Camponotus hemichlaena, but is distinguished by its red pronotum (pronotum black in hemichlaena). Color variation is seen in some populations. For example, the body is almost black except for the petiole and adjacent areas which are reddish in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; or completely black at Mt. Kuju, Kyushu. In these cases C. obscuripes is distinguished from other black Japanese Camponotus species, except Camponotus yessensis, by the short pubescence on its 2nd gastral tergite. C. obscuripes is distributed from lowland to mountain areas. The high mountain populations tend to be darker in color than lowland ones.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation.

Fungi
This taxon is a host for the fungi , and (Shrestha et al., 2017).

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus ligniperdus var. obscuripes Mayr, 1879: 645 (s.w.) JAPAN.
 * André, 1903: 128 (q.m.).
 * Combination in C. (Camponotus): Emery, 1925b: 73.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1896d: 372 (in list); Wheeler, W.M. 1906c: 325; Yano, 1910: 422; Wheeler, W.M. 1928d: 117; Teranishi, 1940: 25; Morisita, 1945: 22; Azuma, 1951: 88.
 * Subspecies of ligniperda: Dalla Torre, 1893: 240; Forel, 1900e: 270; Forel, 1901h: 70; Forel, 1907e: 19.
 * Subspecies of herculeanus: Emery, 1908a: 185; Emery, 1925b: 73; Kono & Sugihara, 1939: 9; Teranishi, 1940: 71; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 221.
 * Status as species: Yasumatsu & Brown, 1951: 38; Azuma, 1953: 5; Azuma, 1955: 80; Yasumatsu & Brown, 1957: 50; Collingwood, 1962: 220; Arnol'di, 1967: 1823; Collingwood, 1976: 307; Azuma, 1977: 116; Onoyama, 1980: 200; Kupyanskaya, 1990: 171; Morisita, et al. 1991: 41; Bolton, 1995b: 114; Radchenko, 1996b: 1202 (in key); Radchenko, 1997a: 557; Terayama, 1999b: 29 (in key); Imai, et al. 2003: 39; Radchenko, 2005b: 160; Ran & Zhou, 2011: 69; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 29.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Anonymous. A list of ants collected at Bandai, Fukushima Prefecture by the members of the Myrmecological Society of Japan in 1992. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 31
 * Azuma M. 1955. A list of ants (Formicidae) from Hokkaido Is. Hyogo Biology 3:79-80.
 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
 * Choi B.M., K. Ogata, and M. Terayama. 1993. Comparative studies of ant faunas of Korea and Japan. 1. Faunal comparison  among islands of Southern Korean and northern Kyushu, Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 48(1): 37-49.
 * Collingwood C. A. 1962. Some ants (Hym. Formicidae) from north-east Asia. Entomologisk Tidskrift 83: 215-230.
 * Forel A. 1900. Fourmis du Japon. Nids en toile. Strongylognathus Huberi et voisins. Fourmilière triple. Cyphomymrex Wheeleri. Fourmis importées. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 10: 267-287.
 * Forel A. 1901. Formiciden des Naturhistorischen Museums zu Hamburg. Neue Calyptomyrmex-, Dacryon-, Podomyrma- und Echinopla-Arten. Mitt. Naturhist. Mus. Hambg. 18: 43-82.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Harada Y., K. Nishikubo, K. Matsumoto, M. Matsuda, Y. Inazawa, Y. Ozono, S. Koto, N. Kawaguchi, and S. Yamane. 2011. Ant fauna of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) forests in southwestern Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 66: 115-127.
 * Harada Y., Y. Matsumoto, S. Maeda, A. Oyama, and S. Yamane. 2009. Comparison of ant fauna among different habitats of Yaku-shima Island, southern Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 64: 125-134.
 * Hayashida K. 1957. Ecological distribution of ants in Sapporo and vicinity. (Preliminary report.). Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University. Series VI. Zoology 13:173-177.
 * Hayashida K. 1961. Studies on the ecological distribution of ants in Sapporo and its vicinity (1 et 2). Insectes Sociaux 7: 125-162.
 * Hayashida K. 1964. Studies on the ecological distribution of ants in Kutchan and its adjacent area. Journal of the Sapporo Otani Junior College 2: 107-129.
 * Hayashida K. 1971. Vertical distribution of ants in the southern part of the Hidaka mountains. [In Japanese.]. Memoirs of the National Science Museum (Tokyo) 4:29-38.
 * Hayashida K. 1972. Ecological survey on ants in Nakagawa Experiment Forest of Hokkaido University. Res. Bull. Exper. Forests, Coll. Agr., Hokkaido Univ. 29: 25-36.
 * Hayashida K., and S. Maeda. 1960. Studies on the ecological distribution of ants in Akkeshi. Journ. Sc. Hokkaido Univ., IV. Zool., 14 (3) : 305-319.
 * Hosoishi S., M. Yoshimura, Y. Kuboki, and K. Ogata. 2007. Ants from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Ari 30: 47-54.
 * Ichinose K. 1990. The Ant Fauna of the Tomakomai Experiment Forest, Hokkaido University (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with Notes on the Nuptial Season. Research Bulletins of College Experiment Forests 47(1) 137-144.
 * Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
 * Kim B.J. 1996. Synonymic list and distribution of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Korea. Entomological Research Bulletin Supplement 169-196.
 * Kim B.J., S.J. Park, and J.H. Kim. 1996. Ants from Naejangsan national park (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Korean J. Soil. Zoology &(2): 120-133.
 * Kim et al. 1993. Systematic study of ants from Chejudo Province. Koran Journal of Entomology 23(3): 117-141.
 * Kupianskaia A.N. 1990. Murav'I (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Dal'nego Vostoka SSSR (1989). Vladivostok. 258 pages.
 * Kupianskaya A. N., Lelej, A.S., and Urbain, B. K. 2000. The Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Kuril Islands. Far Eastern Entomologist. 92:1-21.
 * Kupianskaya, A. N., Lelej, A.S., and Urbain, B. K. 2000. The Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Kuril Islands. Far Eastern Entomologist. 92:1-21.
 * Lelej A. S. 2012. Annotated catalogue of the Insects of Russian Far East. Volume 1. Hymenoptera. Dalnauka: Vladivostok. 635 p.
 * Maeto K. and S. Sato. 2004. Impacts of forestry on ant species richness and composition in warm-temperate forests of Japan. Forest Ecology and Management 187: 213223.
 * Manabe K. 1994. Ants of the shrine forest in Fukuoka Prefecture (second report; ants of mountain zone). Ari 17: 8.
 * Menozzi C. 1940. Contribution à la faune myrmécologique du Japon. Mushi. 13: 11-12.
 * Mizutani A. 1979. A myrmecofaunal survey at Hiyama Experiment Forest, Hokkaido University. Research Bulletin of the College Experiment Forests, Hokkaido University 36:509-516.
 * Mizutani A. 1979. A myrmecofaunal survey at Hiyama Experiment Forest, Hokkaido University. Research Bulletins of the College Experiment Forests Hokkaido University 36(2): 509-516.
 * Morisita M. 1945. Ants of the southern part of Hokkaido, Japan. [In Japanese.] Mushi 16:21-28.
 * Park S.J., K.G. Kim, J.H. Kim, B.J. Kim. 1998. Ants from Chiaksan National Park. Korean J. Soil Zoology 3(1): 25-34.
 * Park S.J., K.G. Kim, J.H. Kim, and B.J. Kim. 1998. Ants from the Seoraksan National Park. The Korean Journal of Systematic Zoology 14(4): 429-439.
 * Park S.J., and B.J. Kim. 2002. Faunal comparison of ants among Cheongsando and other islands of South Sea in Korea. Korean Journal of Entomology 32(1): 7-12.
 * Park, Seong, Joon and Byung, and Kim, Jin. 2002. Faunal Comparison of Ants among Cheongsando and Other Islands of South Sea in Korea. Korean Jornal of Entomology. 32(1):7-12.
 * Sakai H. 2002. Reproductive flight season of Japanese ants. Ari 26: 33-39.
 * Sato T., N. Tsurusaki, K. Hamaguchi, and K. Kinomura. 2010. Ant fauna of Tottori prefecture, Honshu, Japan. Bulletin of the Tottori Prefectural Museum 47: 27-44.
 * Shimazaki, A. and Miyashita, T. 2005. Variable dependence on detrital and grazing food webs by generalist predators: aerial insects and web spiders. Ecography 28: 485-495.
 * Sonobe R. 1971. Ant survey of the Mt. Daisetsu area. Faunal Survey of the Mt. Daisetsu area. JIBP main area XIV. Annual Report of JIBP/CT-S: 199-210.
 * Sonobe R. 1977. Ant fauna of Miyagi prefecture, Japan. Japanese Journal of Ecology 27: 111-116.
 * Sugihara S. and Yamazaki K. 2005. Seed dispersal of Epigaea asitica (Ericaceae) by ants. Bulletin of FFPRI. 4: 201-206
 * Tamura H., Y. Nakamura, K. Yamauchi, and T. Fujikawa. 1969. An ecological survey of soil fauna in Hidaka-Mombetsu, Southern Hokkaido. Journal of the Faculty of Science Hokkaido University, Zoology 17(1): 17-57.
 * Tanaka H. O., T. F. Haraguchi, I. Tayasu, and F. Hyodo. 2019. Stable and radio-isotopic signatures reveal how the feeding habits of ants respond to natural secondary succession in a cool-temperate forest. Insectes Sociaux 66(1): 37-46.
 * Terayama M. 1977. Checklist of the known ants of Saitama Prefecture. Insects and nature 12(4): 26-27
 * Terayama M. 1978. Ants of Bukozan. Nature and insects 13(4): 32-34.
 * Terayama M. 1983. Kagoshima-ken-hondo no ari. Kanagawa-chucho (Journal of the Kanagawa Entomologists Association): 13-24.
 * Terayama M. 1992. Structure of ant communities in East Asia. A. Regional differences and species richness. Bulletin of the Bio-geographical Society of Japan 47: 1-31.
 * Terayama M. 1994. Ants of Okushiri-to Island, Hokkaido. Ari 18: 28-29.
 * Terayama M., K. Murata, and N. Minakawa. 1998. Ants collected by the members of the International Kuril Islands Project, 1995. Ari 22: 10-12.
 * Terayama M., K. Ogata, and B.M. Choi. 1994. Distribution records of ants in 47 prefectures of Japan. Ari (report of the Myrmecologists Society of Japan) 18: 5-17.
 * Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
 * Terayama M., and R. Sonobe. 2002. Ants from the Nasu Imperial Villa, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Flora and fauna of the Tochigi Prefectural Museum research report Nasu Imperial Villa 157-161.
 * Terayama M., and S. Kubota. 2002. Ants of Tokyo, Japan. ARI 26: 1-32.
 * Terayama. M. 1994. Ants of Okushiri-to Island, Hokkaido. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 28-29
 * Terayama. M. 2004. Geological and ecological distribution of Japanese ants communities. (translated from Japanese) Reports of the Saitama Prefecture Animal Research Association. 48:24
 * Teruyama. M. 1988. Ant fauna of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 16: 4-13
 * Wheeler W. M. 1928. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Japan and Korea. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 22: 96-125.
 * Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
 * Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.
 * Yamauchi K. 1968. Additional Notes on the Ecological Distribution of Ants in Sapporo and the Vicinity . Journal of the Faculty of Science Hokaido University, series VI, Zoology 16(3): 382-395.
 * Yasumatsu K., and W. L. Brown, Jr. 1951. Revisional notes on Camponotus herculeanus Linné and close relatives in Palearctic regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Fac. Agric. Kyushu Univ. 10: 29-44.
 * Yoshimura M. 1998. Ants from Islands in Hokkaido, Northern Japan (No. 1, Risiri Island). Rishiri Studies 17:33-38.
 * Yoshimura M. 1999. Ants from Dung of Black Woodpecker in Risiri ants from feces-Island Rishiri black woodpecker. Rishiri Studies 18:35-36.
 * Yoshimura M. 1999. Ants in the island of Hokkaido (Part 2, Part Rebun) Ants from Islands in Hokkaido, Northern Japan (No. 2, Rebun-Island). Rishiri Studies 18: 49-54.
 * Yoshimura M. 2009. Impact of secondary forest management on ant assemblage composition in the temperate region in Japan. J. Insect. Conservation 13(5): 563-568.