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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Ants (Formicidae) » Formicinae » Carpenter Ants (Camponotus)
Photo#19049
Large Pale Ant - Camponotus
Copyright © 2005 Jay Cossey

Large Pale Ant - Camponotus
Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada
May 28, 2005
Size: approx. 1/2"
I'd love to know what kind of ant this is and learn more about the natural history going on here. I've long noticed ants seem to be drawn to these tiny egg-like nubs on Black Cherry leaf stems. This was a rather large, yellowish ant that often would sit completely still, seemingly guarding these tiny protuberances like they were aphids or azure caterpillars.

Images of this individual: tag all
Large Pale Ant - Camponotus Large Pale Ant - Camponotus Another ant on Cherry - Camponotus
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Contributed by Jay Cossey on 3 June, 2005 - 9:41am
Last updated 3 June, 2005 - 7:04pm

Carpenter ant.
This is a species of Camponotus as far as I can tell. I know those "nubs" on the petiole of cherry leaves are glands of some kind. Perhaps they are "extrafloral nectaries," but I am no botanist. If so, that would explain the behavior similar to 'milking' aphids.
… Eric R. Eaton, 3 June, 2005 - 12:35pm login or register to post comments

 
Carpenter ant
Thanks Eric--that sounds reasonable. I have a photo of a similar-looking ant from Pelee that appears to be either cutting leaves or drinking juices from wounded Hop Tree (Wafer Ash) leaves.

Jay Cossey
PhotographsFromNature.com
… Jay Cossey, 3 June, 2005 - 1:02pm login or register to post comments

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