4 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Location:  Morgan Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, California.
Habitat:  Chaparral/Oak forest.
Coloration, hue and pattern:  Brownish red head, amber thorax and legs, mixed amber and brownish red gaster, with more amber towards the thorax
Length:  8mm.

[dspdrew]

Most likely Camponotus semitestaceus according to Dr. James Trager.

[dspdrew]

About two months ago, I noticed what looked like a C. semitestaceus nest right in the same location where I found this ant wandering around. Last week, I was back there again, and this time collected a worker as it wandered out of the nest in the middle of the day for some reason. It's pretty much the same color as this original one, a color of Camponotus I rarely see in the Santa Ana Mountains. So with that fact in mind, I also checked the GPS of both specimens, and they were in the exact same spot, so this new specimen is clearly from the same colony as the originally posted one.

Here's some better pictures of the new specimen and the nest.









Nest

 

 

These pictures clearly show flatted antennal scapes at the base, so I think this is definitely C. semitestaceus... unless of course, that isn't the only species that has that feature. Anybody know if this is true or not?

[uso]

Unfortunately, I really can't answer that question, I'm just too out of practice. I haven't done ants in years. But that pinned ant is a really elegant specimen there! I also love the tips, I'm envious of your collecting skills.

[dspdrew]

Haha, thanks. As you can see I got a nice microscope now that I didn't have before.