Camponotus americanus
ANTS (Formicidae)

Description
This large ant grows to 1/2 inch or 12 mm long. It gas a shiny brown body with a black head. This identification to species has now (2010) been verified by expert volunteers at BugGuide. These ants feed on other insects and honeydew excreted from Aphids, which they tend and protect from predators (B). These ants build their nests in the ground, often under a rock.

Occurrence
This species of ant is not seen nearly as frequently in our two nature centers as the Black Carpenter Ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). They are easiest to find with large colonies of aphids.

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