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Photo#607524
Camponotus castaneus Male? - Camponotus snellingi - female

Camponotus castaneus Male? - Camponotus snellingi - Female
Montrose, Laurens County, Georgia, USA
November 15, 2011
Size: measured 10+ mm
Found on dead sweet gum stump in association with female workers tunneling into the stump. This was one of at least seven observed females in an area about 12 by 12 meters. This individual was the only one to land near what apparently was a new nest being excavated by female workers. I am certain of the genus, but the abdomen looks a bit off for casteneous sp.

Moved
1 - Actual size more like 10-11mm, or were you referring to the associated workers?
2 - C. castaneus is a condiserably larger, soil-dwelling species, not found tunneling in stumps, with different proportions and, as you note, coloration.
2 - This is a female (potential queen). Male ants typically look almost unrecognizably different from the workers and queens. Typical male Camponotus:

 
AARRRGGHH!!!
Yer right, I transposed the numbers from my notes. Will rectify. My general ignorance of ants made me assume this was an alate male. I have some shots of workers clearing out the tunnel that I will post later. I generally observe ants for some time before shooting so as to get an idea of their behavioural patterns and maybe figuring out what they are up to. When I do, I tend to quickly jot notes of my observations to help when I see them again, to see if they are doing something different or the same. Thanks much for the notations, they explain much.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

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