Medium polymorphic workers, with majors broader and more heavily built.
Fine-art photographic collection
Camponotus micans
A dark, glossy carpenter ant of western Mediterranean landscapes.
About this species
Shining carpenter ant
Camponotus micans(Nylander, 1856)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Camponotus micans is a western Mediterranean carpenter ant with a dark, often glossy appearance. Colonies forage in dry open habitats and wooded edges, taking both liquid carbohydrates and animal protein.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Formicidae · Formicinae · Camponotini · Camponotus
Source checked · checked 2026-07-15
Western MediterraneanBroad documented localities — not a complete range map.
Iberian Peninsula, North Africa and parts of the western Mediterranean.
Mediterranean scrub, open woodland, dry grassland and cultivated landscapes.
Foraging is strongest in mild daylight, evening or night depending on season.
Honeydew, plant liquids, carrion and small arthropods.
Ground-nesting colonies, often beneath stones or in sheltered soil.
What makes this species remarkable?
Its polished surface produces the shining appearance reflected in the name micans.
Seasonal timing helps workers avoid the most extreme Mediterranean heat.
The colony combines fast minor workers with more powerful majors.