Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant
Camponotus sexguttatus
This record describes Camponotus sexguttatus (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The dark reddish brown to blackish color, abundant whitish erect setae, and cream colored lateral spots on at least tergite 2 are unique among the North American Camponotus . Natural range is Argentina to Central America. Florida population is introduced.
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 pre-existing cavities in living or dead plants, such as hollow grass and bamboo stems, weed stems, hollow twigs, and burrows in various parts of trees.
Geographic Range
Neotropical, southern Florida only in the USA.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Camponotus sexguttatus. 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 Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by James C. Trager; Additional contributions by PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant
What is Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant?
Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant (Camponotus sexguttatus) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant?
The dark reddish brown to blackish color, abundant whitish erect setae, and cream colored lateral spots on at least tergite 2 are unique among the North American Camponotus .
Where is Six-Spotted Carpenter Ant found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Nests in pre-existing cavities in living or dead plants, such as hollow grass and bamboo stems, weed stems, hollow twigs, and burrows in various parts of trees. |
| Range | Neotropical, southern Florida only in the USA. |