Camponotus ligniperda
Brown carpenter ant
Large European carpenter ant that nests in dead wood of temperate forests.
- Habitat
- Coniferous and deciduous forests; stumps, fallen logs and standing dead wood.
- Behavior
- Large colonies with polymorphic workers; mainly nocturnal and crepuscular foraging.
- Distribution
- Central and northern Europe; from France to the Urals.
- Diet
- Aphid honeydew, nectar, dead insects and plant exudates.
# Key Features
*Camponotus ligniperda* is one of Europe's largest ants, with major workers exceeding 15 mm. Unlike North American carpenter ants, this species prefers already decomposing wood and rarely causes structural damage. Mature colonies can contain several thousand individuals distributed in multiple interconnected chambers within fallen logs. Workers are mainly nocturnal, climbing trees to collect aphid honeydew. The species plays an important role in wood decomposition and nutrient cycling in temperate forests.