Camponotus atriceps (Smith F., 1858)

Camponotus atriceps is a large reddish brown to black polymorphic ant with lighter coxae and legs, and rather abundant and distinctively flexuous anterior-projecting hairs on its mesosomal dorsum. The species thrives in synanthropic environments, and is considered a household pest (Campos-Farinha, 2005). Records of C. atriceps (and its dozens of junior synonyms) range across the Neotropics from southern South America up into Mexico. A specimen (JTL0000719) was collected by Jack Longino from Texas (Hidalgo Co.) on the Mexican border, and it is unknown whether the locality represents the northernmost extent of its natural range or an introduced population. It is possible that C. atriceps is a complex of closely related species rather than a single species, but more extensive taxonomic and phylogenetic studies will be required before the question is resolved.