Camponotus gigas
Camponotus gigas
Camponotus gigas is a species of ant in the genus of carpenter ants ( Camponotus ) within the subfamily of ants scales ( Formicinae ). This type is among the largest ants in the world.
- 3.1 Dining
- 3.2 propagation
Features
The body length of the workers is between 20.9 mm and 28.1 mm. The Queen is on average 31.3 mm, a male 18.3 mm long. Head and mesosoma are usually black in color, while the color of the legs and gaster may vary.
Subspecies
The species Camponotus gigas is divided into the following types:
- C. gigas borneensis Emery, 1887
- C. gigas gigas ( Latreille, 1802)
Dissemination
The distribution area extends into Southeast Asia from Sumatra to Thailand. There, they occur in both mangrove forests, as well as in the mountains at altitudes of up to 1,500 meters.
Way of life
Camponotus gigas are mainly nocturnal. A colony often inhabited several nests, which are interconnected. The total area on which the workers can operate up to a hectare are. Workers who travel distances of 100 m to the food source, are not uncommon. Special sub-castes of transport workers transport the food from the source to the nest and in groups recruited by pheromones. In case of danger, the Major - workers can provide an alarm signal by drumming with their gaster on the floor. In addition, this species has a pronounced territorial behavior. At the borders to neighboring colonies may lead to fights that last for several months. It is always a handful of ants meet at fixed battlefields and fight for several hours in a kind of ritual. This ritualized battles are, however, only with other Camponotus gigas colonies instead, never with other species.
Food
The food consists on average of 87% honeydew, bird excrement 7.4% and 5.3 % insect prey. Rain seems to favor the hunt for insect prey.
Propagation
At dawn dusk raving about 40-225 Gender animals. The times of flight swarm follow a certain rhythm, play a role in the well- endogenous factors. Problems have been identified five overlapping cycles were repeated with a periodicity of 185-190 days.