Queen ID - Salt Lake City, Utah 15AUG16 (Camponotus)

[ooper01]

I collected this queen back on May 14, 2016, but I wasn't sure how she was going to end up. I think she hitched a ride with us to the sand dunes on our camping trailer because that is where I found her when we were packing up to leave. Her gaster was severely depleted. I immediately put her in a test tube setup and she went straight for the water and stayed there for a long time. Pretty sure she is of the genus Camponotus, just wondering if anyone has an idea on the species?? She is 15mm, has dark black head and thorax and orange/black gaster.

You'll notice she has her first two nanitics. They are a transparent yellow/orange color right now. Took 3 months to get here!!

[Batspiderfish]

Looks like Camponotus sansabeanus.

[ooper01]

Looks like Camponotus sansabeanus.

It certainly does. Thank you!

[ooper01]

After doing a little reading, perhaps she was native to the sand dunes in central Utah where we went camping. AntWiki says Camponotus sansabeanus are often found in desert regions and Little Sahara Recreation area is definitely a desert region.