Little Blue Ant - Camponotus - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Ants (Formicoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Formicinae » Camponotini » Carpenter Ants (Camponotus)

Photo#69217

Copyright © 2006 Sandy Spitalnik

Little Blue Ant - Camponotus

Central Park, New York County, New York, USA
August 4, 2006
Size: Appx 6mm

Any ID help is appreciated.

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Contributed by Lloyd and Sandy Spitalnik on 7 August, 2006 - 12:42pm
Last updated 7 September, 2006 - 9:50am

Carpenter ant.

This is a "major" worker of a carpenter ant, Camponotus sp. The "blue" cast is likely due to lighting.

… Eric R. Eaton, 7 August, 2006 - 1:39pm

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ant

Thanks Eric, This shot was taken at 6:30PM, so I guess the lighting was off. Did think at the time tho how pretty and blue/gray it looked. For a 'major' worker, this one must have been on its coffee break. I watched it for several minutes and it never moved a muscle :-) Sandy

… Lloyd and Sandy Spitalnik, 7 August, 2006 - 11:49pm

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Carpenter Ant Worker

This is a classic carpenter ant, a member of the Camponotus genus. Although 6 mm seems a tad small, the large head of this specimen suggests it is a major worker--the worker caste in carpenter ants can vary tremendously in size, from little minors that look a lot like a Formica ant to these massive-headed major ladies. Not sure of the species...the most common black one in many regions, including your own, is Camponotus pennsylvanicus...the myrmecos.net site has good photos of them plus other carpenter species should you want to have a look and compare. A lot of carpenter ants are primarily, though not exclusively, nocturnal, which is why you may not have seen these insects before.

… Heimchen, 7 August, 2006 - 1:39pm

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Ant

Thanks Heimchen - Took a look at the pics on your informative link. My interest in photographing and identifying insects is new, (have been a birder for 20 years) so I'm probably off on the measurements. I really appreciate all the ID help you've given me. Sandy

… Lloyd and Sandy Spitalnik, 7 August, 2006 - 11:36pm

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