Camponotus semitestaceus

Nests are found under stones or in the soil, surrounded by a small mound (few cms up to 30 cms in diameter). The colonies are large with many majors. Workers are active during the night or during cooler times of the day, and tend Homoptera. Nest density can be very high. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Western United States as far east as Oklahoma, south to northern Mexico.

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



Habitat
Pinyon juniper forests.

Biology
In New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002) brood was found in a nest in May; reproductives were found in nests in September. The scarabaeid beetle Cremastocheilus planatus and the ant cricket Myrmecophila oregonensis occur in nests.

Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - We have 90 records from 67 localities, all but 1 of which are south of the 40th Parallel; 3,000-7,700 ft. Seventeen records were in the Cool Desert (1 in a Sarcobatus Subclimax, 1 in a cottonwood grove, 2 in buildings, 1 in a fence post, 1 among roots of a plant); 41 were in the Pinyon-Juniper Biome. Eighteen nests were under stones, 8 in exposed soil with craters 5-20 cm in diameter, 12 exposed and surmounted by irregular piles of soil, 2 in rotten wood. Entrances were large (10 mm in diameter). Larvae of Pseudomorpha sp. (Coleoptera: Carabidae; det. T.L. Erwin) were in nests. A pupa of Coniontis sp. was found in a nest. Araeoschizus armatus Hom (both Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae; det. T.J. Spilman).

Nomenclature

 *  semitestaceus. Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) semitestaceus Snelling, R.R. 1970: 396 (w.) U.S.A. [First available use of Camponotus maculatus subsp. vicinus var. semitestaceus Emery, 1893i: 672; unavailable name.]

Type Material
Wheeler (1910) - Described by Emery from a couple of workers from Plummer County, Calif., 5000 ft. (Theo. Pergande).