Camponotus variegatus (Formicidae)

Adults of this ant [Camponotus variegatus] measure from 5 mm to 1.27 cm in length and are Hawaii's largest ant species. They are typically yellowish-brown with dark brown stripes across the top of the abdomen. Because of their size and color, winged adults of the Hawaiian carpenter ant are often confused with the winged adults of the West Indian drywood termite and the Formosan subterranean termite, since the reproductives of both groups tend to swarm (appear) at approximately the same time of the year. Several morphological characters can be used to differentiate these individuals. The pupal stage lasts about 22 days. It is this stage that is often mistaken for eggs. The first small workers chew their way out of the cocoons and begin to assist the queen. The queen feeds the larvae a fluid secreted from her mouth. This nourishment is derived from her stored fat bodies. The larvae grow for about 28 days before spinning cocoons around themselves and pupating. The elongated, whitish eggs hatch in about 20 days. (adapted from UKM, accessed 10 May 2008)  "Although it is primarily found outdoors, [Camponotus variegatus in Hawaii] will establish nests in wood that has previously been hollowed out by termite or inside rotting logs and tree stumps. For this reason and because of its name [a type of "carpenter ant"], it is often incriminated as a wood destroyer. Although it may do some excavation of wood, it does not consume wood like termites and does little to no damage to wooden structures. Species of carpenter ants in the Pacific northwest and eastern parts of the United States, however, are serious wood destroyers and have rivaled termites in their importance." (UKM, accessed 10 May 2008) 

Species description or overview

Identification

AntWeb field guide to the ant species of Hawaii 
Images of 20 of the ant species of Hawaii help to identify the species.

Taxonomy & nomenclature

Fauna Europaea -- Taxon Details
taxonomic information and links to information on this species distribution in Europe (specific) and worldwide (general) is available here.

Camponotus variegatus (Smith, 1858) taxonomy from ITIS
ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, lists taxonomic data for Camponotus variegatus and allows searches of other databases.

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Impacts

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Distribution

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The template for this page was created on 15 March 2004 by EMS, and was last updated on 20 February 2006 by PT. The content of this page was last regenerated on (or after) 28 March 2008 by PT.