Chestnut Carpenter Ant
Camponotus castaneus
This record describes Camponotus castaneus (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Typical Carpenter Ant, large and uniformly reddish orange. See Mississippi Entomological Museum . [OY] Its sister species, C. americanus, is in the Camponotus sensu stricto, and it fits well inside that group. No doubt this species will fall into the Camponotus subgen. when revised.
Wikipedia reference for Camponotus castaneus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camponotus_castaneus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Tribe
- Camponotini
- Genus
- Camponotus (Carpenter Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Nests in rotting logs, soil under rocks, etc., or even in exposed soil.
Geographic Range
e US (BG data)
Seasonal Activity
All year of course. Alates noted May-June (Mississippi) and September (Mississippi, North Carolina)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: castaneus (L). 'chestnut-colored' (Internet searches)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Camponotus castaneus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Chestnut Carpenter Ant (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , KenW , Tyler Hedlund , Oliver.Yung
Frequently Asked Questions About Chestnut Carpenter Ant
What is Chestnut Carpenter Ant?
Chestnut Carpenter Ant (Camponotus castaneus) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Chestnut Carpenter Ant?
7-10 mm, major workers larger (?)
How do you identify Chestnut Carpenter Ant?
Typical Carpenter Ant, large and uniformly reddish orange. See Mississippi Entomological Museum .
Where is Chestnut Carpenter Ant found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Nests in rotting logs, soil under rocks, etc., or even in exposed soil. |
| Range | e US (BG data) |
When is Chestnut Carpenter Ant active?
Chestnut Carpenter Ant: seasonal activity - All year of course. Alates noted May-June (Mississippi) and September (Mississippi, North Carolina).