Colobopsis impressa
This record describes Colobopsis impressa (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Heavily sculptured, These are the famous plug-headed ants, whose majors use their bizzarre head shape to block the nest entrance, allowing entry only to nestmates reurning form foraging.
Identification notes
Heavily sculptured,
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Tribe
- Camponotini
- Genus
- Colobopsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Live in galls, twigs and hollow stems of woody plants, often ash, but also elderbery oak, etc.
Geographic Range
se US - AntWeb
Seasonal Activity
Flight season is July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Nectar, honeydew, nutrients scavenged from vertebrate droppings and invertebrate carrion.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Colobopsis impressa Roger, 1863
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Colobopsis impressa. 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 Colobopsis impressa (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by James C. Trager; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Bbarnd , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Colobopsis impressa
What is Colobopsis impressa?
Colobopsis impressa is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Colobopsis impressa?
Small for a carpenter ant, queens 9-10 mm, majors 8-9mm, minors 5 mm
How do you identify Colobopsis impressa?
Heavily sculptured,
Where is Colobopsis impressa found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Live in galls, twigs and hollow stems of woody plants, often ash, but also elderbery oak, etc. |
| Range | se US - AntWeb |
What does Colobopsis impressa eat?
The diet of the Colobopsis impressa includes Nectar, honeydew, nutrients scavenged from vertebrate droppings and invertebrate carrion..
When is Colobopsis impressa active?
Colobopsis impressa: seasonal activity - Flight season is July..