The tropical carpenter ant (Camponotus atriceps) is a large, robust ant species native to tropical regions of Central and South America. It is easily recognized by its glossy body, long legs, and strong mandibles, with workers varying in size due to the species’ pronounced caste polymorphism. Unlike termites, these ants do not eat wood but excavate galleries in dead or decaying wood, tree cavities, and sometimes wooden structures to build their nests. Camponotus atriceps is primarily nocturnal, foraging at night for a wide range of foods including insects, nectar, and honeydew from sap-feeding insects.