The Camponotus ligniperda is a carpenter ant species, and can be from 6 to 18 millimeters long. It is the largest ant species in Central and Northwestern Europe. The body is rather glossy, the head and most of the abdomen (metasoma) is black, the thorax (mesosoma) and the legs and the front part of the metasoma is reddish brown. The size differences between the workers are significant.
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
By Joost Thissen
Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Uploaded Jul 17, 2013. Captured May 20, 2013 13:50 in GR-441, Sierra Nevada National Park, 18413 Capileira, Granada, Spain.
comments (5)
On a side note, do you think Camponotus ligniperdus is the same as the Ligniperda you mentioned? Posted 12 years ago
I guess those are the same, the name is so equal. Posted 12 years ago
Kissing ants? For ants, a kiss is not just a kiss—it’s communication. Social insects, such as ants, are known to engage in trophallaxis, which is the mouth-to-mouth exchange of food. They store food in their crops, aka “social stomachs”, and can then regurgitate it later into a fellow ant’s mouth. Any food that an ant doesn’t share with others is passed to the ant’s own midgut where it is digested. Trophallaxis isn’t just about sharing food though. It’s also how ants “talk” by exchanging proteins, hormones, and other chemicals. So, while the thought of someone vomiting into your mouth may sound gross, it is actually a very effective way for ants to share food and communicate! {Spotted in Spain by JungleDragon user, Joost Thissen} #JungleDragon
Posted 6 years ago