Systematics, distribution, and ecology of an endemic California Camponotusquercicola (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

The endemic California carpenter ant Camponotus quercicola Smith is a littl e known component of oak woodland habitats containing Quercus wislizenii de Candolle and Q, agrifolia Nee. Close investigation of one site, Stebbins C old Canyon Reserve, showed that C, quercicola was a dominant, arboreal ant species, foraging primarily at night. The Ist description of the sexual cas tes of C. quercicola is provided, together with a guide to distinguish all castes of C, quercicola from similar, sympatric Camponotus species. We comp iled a distribution map based on our own collections and museum specimens. To test the phylogenetic position of C. quercicola within the North America n Camponotus sensu stricto group, we sequenced 385 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I from 9 Camponotus species. C, quercicola did not form a clade with the North American C. herculeanus species group to which it was previously assigned. Preliminary results of microsatellite analysis suggested a polygynous colony structure in this species.