(Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Issue No. 269
J.C. Nickerson and D. L. Harris
January, 1985
Introduction
The Florida carpenter ant, Camponotus abdominalis floridanus (Buckley), is the predominant Camponotus sp. in Florida. Smith (1965) states that “this ant undoubtedly ranks as one of the most important house-infesting ants in Florida”. Like other carpenter ants, C. a. floridanus excavates galleries in wood that are similar to termite damage, but are distinguished by a clean sandpapered appearance and absence of debris. Wood fiber is not used for food but is hollowed out for nesting sites.