Carpenter ants (Camponotus aethiops)

Camponotus aethiops · Camponotus
Carpenter ants (Camponotus aethiops). Recorded flying from June through August. Reddish-brown head, reddish-brown mesosoma, dark brown/black gaster. Reddish-brown head and mesosoma against a blackish gaster.

When do carpenter ants fly?

Recorded flying from June through August.

Flight calendar

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Queen appearance

Reddish-brown head, reddish-brown mesosoma, dark brown/black gaster. Reddish-brown head and mesosoma against a blackish gaster.
fast, active forager with quick darting movements
Founding care
Fully claustral: seal her in a test tube setup, somewhere dark and undisturbed. She raises the first brood on her own wing muscles and needs no food or opening until the first workers appear.
Needs a winter diapause: a cool, dark rest period each year.
Diet: Insects, meat, sugar water, honey etc.
Intermediate · Queen ~12-13 mm
Read more on AntWiki →
Care data from antkeeping.info (CC BY 4.0).

Habitat

Dead wood · also under bark · typical for this genus
Check logs, stumps and dead branches for landed queens. Look over dead trunks for queens exploring the bark.

See carpenter ants where you live

Dealate scores the day's best window, a rolling 7-day outlook, and a live forecast map for whichever species fly near you. Every recurring plan starts with a free 7-day trial.
Start a free 7-day trial →