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Dissertation
Biology of carpenter ants in Washington State (Hymenoptera:Formicidae:Camponotus)
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
05/1985
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007345
Abstract
Carpenter ants, species of Camponotus Mayr, cause damage to structures because of their habit of burrowing into wood to create and expand nesting sites. In 824 sample collections, C. modoc Wheeler occurred in 78 percent of the structural infestations, and C. vicinus Mayr occurred in 15 percent. In the spring of the year, reproductives swarm, mate, and inseminated females initiate new colonies. Workers develop in the sunmer from eggs laid early by individual queens initiating colonies and by established queens. A second brood is produced later in the summer which overwinter as larvae and complete development in mid-winter. Reproductives are produced in late summer and overwinter in the nest. Major workers were first produced in laboratory colonies during the third year. Noninseminated queens produced males when reared individually or in small colonies. Development of ovarioles is greatest in queens with an average number of 48 ovarioles per ovary compared to 1-4 ovarioles per ovary in workers.
Foraging of C. modoc is chiefly nocturnal with peaks of activity occurring between 8 pm and 4 am. In western Washington, most foraging activity occurred in the months of April through September, while the foraging season was shorter in eastern Washington, May through August. Trails were well established between foraging and nesting sites with excavations made for both epigaeic and subterranean trails. A trail pheromone is produced in the hindgut. Dufour's gland is well developed in female castes, particularly workers, and was investigated for a role in trail orientation. No function was found for this gland.
Colonies grow to extensive sizes and ultimately include a main colony and satellite colonies. In 75 percent of structural infestations, satellite colonies were involved. The main colony, located outside the structure, occurred most commonly in living or dead trees and stumps. Satellite colonies contained pupae, mature larvae, winged reproductives, and workers.
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Details
- Title
- Biology of carpenter ants in Washington State (Hymenoptera:Formicidae:Camponotus)
- Creators
- Laurel D Hansen - Washington State University, Department of Entomology
- Contributors
- Roger D. Akre (Chair)Arthur L. Antonelli (Committee Member)E. C. (Edward Charles) Klostermeyer (Committee Member)D. E. Miller (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Entomology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 159
- Identifiers
- 99901225654401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation