Panic Disorder and Anxiety in Teens

Panic Disorder and Anxiety in Teens Panic Disorder Diagnosis Print Panic Disorder and Anxiety in Teens By Katharina Star, PhD facebook linkedin Katharina Star, PhD, is an expert on anxiety and panic disorder. Dr. Star is a professional counselor, and she is trained in creative art therapies and mindfulness. Learn about our editorial policy Katharina Star, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 10, 2019 Commercial Eye/Getty Images More in Panic Disorder Diagnosis Symptoms Treatment Coping Related Conditions Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that typically onsets in late adolescence or early adulthood. Although panic disorder often begins between the ages of 15 and 35, its still possible to develop this condition in childhood or early adolescence. Panic Disorder and Teens The symptoms of panic disorder in teenagers are very similar to the experiences of adult sufferers. The main symptom of panic disorder is the experience of recurrent panic attacks. These attacks often occur unexpectedly and are marked by extreme fear, nervousness, and apprehension. Panic attacks are usually felt through a mix of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. These attacks typically occur out-of-the-blue and are accompanied by four or more of the following symptoms: Accelerated heart rateExcessive sweatingTrembling or shakingShortness of breathFeeling of chokingChest painNausea or abdominal painFeeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faintDerealization or depersonalizationFear of losing control or going crazyFear of dyingFeelings of numbness or tingling sensationsChills or hot flushes Panic attacks can vary in terms of symptoms, intensity, and duration. Most last for only a brief period of time, reaching a peak within 10 minutes. But a panic attack can continue to affect a teenager long after it has ended, causing heightened nervousness and anxiety hours after the attack has subsided. Experiencing a panic attack can be a frightening experience for a teenager. Similar to adults with panic disorder, teens that experience panic attacks are susceptible to developing avoidance behaviors. When this occurs, the teen begins to stay away from situations, places, and events that he believes may trigger a panic attack. He may, for example, start to avoid crowdsâ€"such as at school assemblies or the cafeteria. He may also become fearful in cars or other forms of transportation, and feel afraid to leave places deemed safe, such as the home. Put an End to Panic-Related Avoidance Repeatedly avoiding situations that may trigger panic attacks is a condition known as agoraphobia. Although more likely to occur in adulthood, agoraphobia can develop during adolescence. About one-third of those with panic disorder will also experience agoraphobia. This condition can potentially become debilitating, causing a teen to be homebound with agoraphobia. Treatment Options If left untreated, panic disorder can negatively affect a teenager’s life and potentially lead to problems with school, relationships, and self-esteem. Only a doctor or qualified professional can diagnose a teen with panic disorder. A doctor can also rule out possible medical causes for the panic attacks and determine if any co-occurring conditions exist, such as depression. Fortunately, safe and effective treatment options are available to help teens with panic disorder. Some of the most common treatment options include psychotherapy, medications, and self-help strategies. Treatment outcomes are often best when utilizing a combination of these options and following through with treatment recommendations. Through psychotherapy, a teen can meet with a professional who treats panic disorder to work through deep emotions and develop coping strategies. Different types of psychotherapy may be availableâ€"the most common being cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is centered on helping the teen develop healthier ways of thinking and behaving. Find Help With the 7 Best Online Anxiety Support Groups Family psychotherapy may be necessary to assist in building supportive relationships between the teen and the rest of the family. Group therapy may also be available, in which the teen will be able to work through issues alongside peers who are also struggling with similar problems. A Word From VeryWell Panic disorder can be experienced on and off throughout one’s lifespan. For instance, a teenager may have frequent and unexpected panic attacks for several months, followed by many years without any symptoms. Regardless of whether panic disorder is experienced for a short period of time or throughout one’s life, it doesnt have to be unmanageable. The sooner a teenager gets the help he/she needs, the quicker he/she will be on the road to recovery.

Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God - 878 Words

Principle is a complicated matter; while many choose to act upon it, others see to defy it, for some it is their base, for others their crutch, but for however unintelligible it maybe it is unique, undefinable, irregular and variable. So is rare the case where one’s deeply held principles, their ideology and their inner self remain static chiefly in times of crisis and change. Many a mortal let alone metaphysical is immune to the treacheries of time and lapse which is why Janie’s case is so unique; in the framework of Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie is born a black woman in a time where neither measure meant much. Yet in defiance of this even from the times of her youth Janie remains defiant, jovial, and content throughout her marriages and the hardships endured in each of her marriages. In accordance of the time; money, property and status were held highly above all other paltry matters of age or emotion so is the case that the sixteen year old Janie married Logan Killicks a middle-aged black farmer whose crotchety and confrontational ways, foil that of Janie’s vibrance. Though his initial treatment of Janie was favorable and chivalrous, her marriage to Killicks remained one of position and legality, loveless in all aspect. Unhappy in her marriage Janie visits Nanny lamenting her poor relationship with her husband only to be berated for her lack of understanding, she returns despite knowing fault in her reasoning. Nearly a year later Killicks angered over Janie’sShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay1051 Words   |  5 Pages Their Eyes Were Watching God Character Analysis of Janie Crawford Zora Neale Hurston’s book Their Eyes Were Watching God, is a novel about one young black woman’s journey to find her own self-worth in an unfriendly world. The story takes place in Eatonville, Florida, from Janie’s youth to adulthood. The author’s intentions was to explain how Janie Crawford after three marriages, finally achieves what she craved all of her life, independence and a strong self-worth. The beginning of the storyRead MoreAnalysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God 1477 Words   |  6 PagesNot to Speak In the novel Their Eyes were Watching God, the main character, Janie, faces an inner battle in her three marriages, to speak or not to speak, which manifests itself differently with Logan, Joe, and Tea Cake. In her first marriage to Logan Killicks, Janie has her idea of what a marriage should look like shattered, as she failed to fall into the romantic idea of love that she held dear (Myth and Violence in Zora Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God). In her second marriage, to JoeRead MoreAnalysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God 1061 Words   |  5 PagesDivision: Janie Crawford in Their Eyes Were Watching God Their Eyes Were Watching God was written in 1937 by Zora Neale Hurston. This story follows a young girl by the name of Janie Crawford. Janie Crawford lived with her grandmother in Eatonville, Florida. Janie was 16 Years old when her grandmother caught her kissing a boy out in the yard. After seeing this her grandmother told her she was old enough to get married, and tells her she has found her a husband by the name of Logan. Logan was a muchRead MoreAnalysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God 1386 Words   |  6 Pagesfigure out what you want to do with your life,and things we like. We find out what makes you unique. You find out what true happiness is, but you have to take risks and let things go and try new things. A great book that shows this is â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God†. Janie, the main character, is involved in three very different relationships. Zora Neale Hurston, the author, explains how Janie learns some valuable lessons about marriage, integrity, and love an d happiness from her relationships with LoganRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God Critical Analysis1502 Words   |  7 PagesAn analysis of Zora Neale Hurston Their Eyes Were Watching God Certain goals or visions are often withheld for the simple fact that what we want sometimes does not look right in the eyes of people we hold dear. In The novel â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God† by Zora neale hurston, skillfully uses characterization to vividly portray how gender superiority impacts one’s decisions in life. Janie Crawford the protagonist struggles trying to find who she is through the men she meets in her life becauseRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God1426 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis For â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God† In the novel, â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God† by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie Crawford had a host of marriages that didn’t go how she planned. She was married a total of three times, two of her husbands happen to pass away. Which makes me think to myself that Janie was probably getting fed up with the pain and suffering made her feel that love was not the things for her due to all the problems that occurred in the past relationships. Real love doesn’tRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Their Eyes Were Watching God 1065 Words   |  5 PagesAditya Ramkumar Ms. Gould Honors American Literature 7 April 2017 The Analysis of Race Relations instead of Feminism Throughout the history of the United States, race relations have proven to be a major issue. From slavery in the early years of the nation to Jim Crow laws, African Americans have been continually oppressed in US history. The Harlem Renaissance, provoked by national prosperity in the Roaring 20s, propelled the progress of creative writing within the black community, helping form aRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God Character Analysis1126 Words   |  5 PagesTryphena Jeyakumar 10th Honors Literature Ms. Cooney, 4th period August 2017 Complex Character Analysis Battles and fights are some examples of conflict in most fictional stories. They can be many different fights, like the epic battle between good and evil, or a kingdom defending their land from enemies. When people think of the word ‘battle’, they may think of climatic sword fights and war. But sometimes, battles can take place inside of a person. Perhaps a character may have conflicting aspirationsRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God1584 Words   |  7 PagesTheir Eyes Were Watching God â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God† by Zora Neale Hurston, written in 1937, is about a African american girl named Janie Crawford who grew up in a white household. Through her transition to womanhood she wanted to experience true love, which set her on a quest to do so. Her grandmother arranged a marriage for her, which Janie wasnt so happy about. The story follows her growing as a person and her many experiences with her marriages. Each impacting her emotionally and makingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Their Eyes Were Watching God 944 Words   |  4 Pages She moves from an inaudible one to one that carries the lessons she has learned back to the community. Discuss the development of Janie’s voice, of her verbal abilities, in the novel. Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay Janie Crawford, the main character of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, strives to find her own voice in the course of the novel. Throughout the novel, the people with whom Janie lived tried to restrict her to an understood, stereotypical role, but Janie was able

Lifestyle in Balance - 1448 Words

Work Life Balance Brief Introduction: As life is getting developed the living style is getting high in several regions around the world which shape a more expensive life that leads male and female for more working hours or to have more than one job to get affluent life. The prior factor additionally the following factors, the workforce is getting older and technology has changed the way we work rapidly, Set off alarm bells of a significant problem which is the conflict between paid work, unpaid work and personal time hence the significance of this phenomenon requires a solution that is able to resolve this phenomenon properly which can be the balance between the work and the life. Work Life balance can be defined as the degree to which an individual is simultaneously able to balance the temporal, emotional and behavioral demands of both paid work and family responsibility. (Hill et al cited in Sarker, Xiao, Sarker Ahuja, 2012). Key Points: This study explores ideas and thoughts related to work life balance starting with job and socio-demographic factors related to work life balance, then it mentioned four common positions of men with work life balance and it proposed options of Work life balance, strategies of time management, additionally it explores the impacts of mobile Technology on Work Life Balance, Finally it describe how the work life balance is related to the interface of individual, group, and organization Factors Related to Work Life Balance: Work lifeShow MoreRelatedThe Intelligence Balance For Healthy Lifestyle772 Words   |  4 PagesWhile doing this emotional intelligence assessment, I realised it can be vary after certain period of time as situation changes with a respect of time. But I believe it great experience to check own emotional test to know the intelligence balance for healthy lifestyle. As I start researching on this topic in depth, I released for any individual or organisational success, own self-evaluation is must. As it shows our negative and positive phases of personality and rethink to overcome or improve your skillsRead MoreA Theory That Individuals Can Live With Better Health1280 Words   |  6 Pagesstress, more satisfaction, and have a balanced lifestyle through particular lifestyle configurations. Ultimately, the lifestyle balance is what can lead to a better quality of life with higher satisfaction and health because it contains compatibility of actual and desired occupation patterns based on a n individual’s environment. The model recognizes that people have different physical, social, and cultural needs and that they can vary over time. The balance is the result of the extent people engage inRead MoreChanges in a Life After Diagnosis of Diabetes837 Words   |  3 Pagessome changes we want to do and others we need to do for a better lifestyle. Same happened to my Dad when he needs to change his food habits and exercise habits after he was diagnostic with Diabetes Type 2.My dad has to change his old habits and he learns a new challenge lifestyle. This was difficult in the beginning, but after time he understood that he needs to change in pro to live better. Many people has to change his/her lifestyle when is diagnostic with a chronic disease without of cure such asRead MorePotential Research Study: Work Life Balance. There Is A1364 Words   |  6 PagesPotential Research Study: Work Life Balance There is a problem with health related issues in Black women involved in leadership roles. Despite the decline of Black women in professional roles, most encounter the task of attempting to balance work-life and home with a husband and kids. According to a poll conducted by the Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation, forty percent of black women say they experience frequent stress, compared with 51 percent of white women; stress associated withRead MoreThe Average Fat Loss Rate Of Patients1458 Words   |  6 PagesEI: TEE energy balance ratios showed a 25% increase in positive energy balances (ratio 1) from pre to post-surgery. This shown in the table below. The table shows the percentages of valid patients with positive and negative energy balances at baseline and 6 months post-bariatric surgery. These were taken by dividing the number of patients with positive energy balances by the total number of valid patients. This was repeated for the number of patients with negati ve energy balances. This process wasRead MoreHow Do You Define Success?1090 Words   |  5 Pagessuccessful business and live a happy life? Striving to have both, commonly called â€Å"work-life balance,† is not new. Framed as a women’s issue for decades, today men and women are concerned about work-life balance and wonder how to have it all. I’ve come to realize that my business, which I call a â€Å"lifestyle† business, is a way to have it all. A lifestyle business is one where you fit your business around your lifestyle. I didn’t sit down and plan it that way, but looking back over the years, I am pleasedRead MoreHow Energy Balance Affects Weight Essay957 Words   |  4 PagesHow energy balance affects weight and if there is in fact a way, or ways, to â€Å"increase† metabolism? Our body is consisted to be in energy balance when energy intake equals energy expenditure and body weight and composition are maintained. When there is an energy imbalance, â€Å"the rate of change of energy stores equals rate of energy intake minus rate of energy expenditure† (Galgani Ravussin, 2008, p. 110). Weight gain occurs when our body is in positive energy balance, and weight loss occurs whenRead MoreHow Lifestyle Changes Have Disturbed The Homoeostasis Of Human Body1339 Words   |  6 PagesThis essay discusses as to how lifestyle changes have disturbed the homoeostasis of the human body to cause chronic diseases such as diabetes. It explains the way medical science is applied to manage the diabetes and what advancements have been made over the years. It also discusses the economic and social implications of diabetes. It concludes that while modern lifestyle has disturbed the homoeostasis of the human body, advancements in medical science has helped manage the ill nesses, while failingRead MoreOur Environment : Preserving A Precious Asset923 Words   |  4 Pages Our Environment: Preserving a Precious Asset Rachel Carson once said, â€Å"The balance of nature is not a status quo; it is fluid, evershifting,in a constant state of adjustment. Man, too, is part of this balance.† Undoubtedly, man and woman assume a crucial role in the balance of nature. More controversial among man and woman is determining exactly what that role entails. For the upward of 200 years, writers have published varying ideas about the responsibility that we, as the inhabitants of earthRead MoreCase Analysis: Work-Like Balance in Baxter1134 Words   |  5 Pages                CASE   ANALYSIS    Work/Life   Balance   at   Baxter          Case   Application   1- ­Ã¢â‚¬ A:   Work/Life   Balance   at   Baxter    Pamantasan   ng   Lungsod   ng   Maynila/MBA- ­Ã¢â‚¬ TEP    Page   2   of   5       I.    INTRODUCTORY   STATEMENT    Much   has   been   said   about   diversity   and   Ã¢â‚¬Ëœwork- ­Ã¢â‚¬ life   balance’   in   general.      With    Baxter,   a   leading

The Relationship between amount of sleep and reaction time Free Essays

In addition, there have been many catastrophic events in the world caused by lack of sleep or fatigue in certain situations. These include the disaster of Coherency, the Challenger explosion In 1986 and the Exxon Valued oil spill, many claim, were caused by lack of sleep and fatigue. The employees at Coherency were overworked, working 13 hours or more. We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between amount of sleep and reaction time or any similar topic only for you Order Now The pilots of the Challenger had a significant lack of sleep and the oil spill caused by the workers working over 22 hours per day. Furthermore, these catastrophic events are all that could be affected or prevented with a quick reaction time. Therefore, could the fatigue and lack of sleep have led to slower reaction times causing these events to occur or was it another variable that the fatigue caused? I wonder if there is a relationship between amount of sleep and reaction time. Plan: To find out the relationship between amount of sleep and reaction time, if there is one, I will be using two different type of investigation. Firstly, I will be doing some of the investigation myself by taking a sample from my year group and having them complete a test. In addition to that, I will also be getting results from other studies, Investigations and reports on the same experiment as the results would be more reliable and varied. For my own Investigation, since I am comparing, It Is difficult to have certain independent or dependent variables. However, since I am seeing how amount of sleep affects reaction time, as my independent variable, I will use the amount of sleep measured in hours and I will be using the reaction time measured in seconds. I will obtain the amount of sleep by asking the people within the sample and I will get the reaction time by having the sample take a free online test. For this investigation, I will be using convenience sampling since the investigation has a very small time limit and I will not have any resources available to investigate on a larger sample or to do sample which is outside of this sample. Therefore these results are quite unreliable since It Is only done on a very small group and It Is only convenience sampling so It only takes Into account a very small group of people in a certain location. This Is why I will also be using other Investigations, papers and studies to get more reliable and accurate information. I will have a sample of 15 people from etc. To find more reliable, accurate and more varied data. Once I have collected the results, I will firstly create a table out of the raw information to simply take down the results. Then, I will create a processed data able to make it easier to create graphs. Then I will work out averages for the reaction times and amount of sleep making them into box and whisker plots. Then, I will create a scatter graph to compare both my variables. I believe that the results will be that the amount of sleep has a very large influence over one’s reaction time. This selection was purely reliability and credibility of the source as the 2 most credible and reliable sources were chosen for the data and information. The first source was the paper â€Å"Effect of Total Sleep Deprivation on Reaction Time and Waking EGG Activity in Man† by the American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society, written by l. Lorenz, J. Ramose, C. Race, M. A. Guava and M. Coors-Caber. The second paper was by Mitch Leslie for the Stanford report with the name â€Å"Sleep impacts reaction time as much as alcohol. Both of these sources gave information such as averages, graphs and conclusions with some analysis but did not give the raw data. Therefore, some of this processed data could be misleading and could be biased. In addition, the data that these sources give are quite different compared to the data given from my investigations. This would mean that my results are probably unreliable as it was conducted on a very small group, none of the var iables were changed so there was not much variety and the results were mostly inaccurate. In addition, there are some missing values especially for the time some people went to the estimated hours of sleep they had gotten. I will treat this as all the other values although if they seem like outliers on a graph, it would be because they are inaccurate. To analyses, I will group the data and information by source treating them differently. Overall, I believe that I have enough data to analyses and to create a inclusion since I have the data I have collected and the information from the other studies. How to cite The Relationship between amount of sleep and reaction time, Papers

Were the Nuremberg Trials Legal Essay Example

Were the Nuremberg Trials Legal Essay Thefirst international war-crimes trials began in November 1945 in Nuremberg, Germany. The International Military Tribunal (IMT) was set up by the victorious Allies (the U.S., France, Great Britain and the Soviet Union) at the end of World War II. Prosecutors from those four countries indicted a total of 22 Nazi German officials on three basic charges conspiring and ultimately launching an aggressive war, committing war crimes and committing crimes against humanity. Also indicted were various German organizations and businesses that the Allies charged with aiding the Nazi war effort. Among the atrocities that the Nazis were responsible for over the previous 10 years were the murder of six million Jews, a vast amount of homosexuals and allies of Jewish people throughout Europe and the destruction of thousands of cities and towns. The question we are pondering is whether or not the Nuremberg Trials were legal. Lets analyze this question. We shouldfirst attempt to understand what is de fined as the correct legal process and legal reasoning.In order to do that we must understand the institution, culture, process and social structure surrounding the law. There are two perspectives that you can take on the analysis of legal issues. The internal and external standpoints can help in analyzing this legal concern. The internal perspective looks at law as separate from life and society. While the external perspective views trusts that rules are affected by society and culture.So, the legal process or basic conception of law stresses the abstract in the sense of law as an ideal or statement of principles. These principles are then incorporated into written documents. On the constitutional level, law may take the form of statutes and case opinions (i.e. precedence). Furthermore, the fundamental source of law the natural conception of law tends to stress revelation and the intimate relationship between law and moral values. And, the

Essay on American Government and Politics Part 3

Essay on American Government and Politics Part 3 Essay on American Government and Politics Part 3 Essay on American Government and Politics Part 3Continue Part 2Needles is the first chapter of the book that gives insight into the early life of Sonia Sotomayor. The author describes her early life and her environment.At home is the second chapter, where the author describes her home and her family members in details.Abuelita is the third chapter, where the author describes her childhood and her friends and uncovers her reliance on her friends and importance of friendly relations for her.Gilmars goodbyes is the fourth chapter that gives insight into interpersonal relations of the author with her friends and uncovers her background.Trips to Puerto Rico is the fifth chapter, where the author continues to uncover her background and emphasizes her Hispanic origin. In this chapter, the author uncovers the brief history of her family and its strong links to Puerto Rico.Papis death is the sixth chapter that reveals a tragic moment in the life of the child, the death of her father. However, Sonia is not really disappointed by this death because her father was alcoholic and died, when she was just nine.El luto is the seventh chapter, where the author depicts her struggle with her first problems and recovery after the death of her father.Celinas story is the eighth chapter, where the author reveals the growing role of her grandmother, who became the main care giver for her.Transformation is the ninth chapter, which conveys the profound change that occurred to the narrator and shows how a girl has started to change under the impact of hardships that occurred to her life.Diabetes, Nancy Drew, Perry Mason is the tenth chapter revealing the main health issue that Sonia confronted at the early age. She was diagnosed with diabetes and had to learn how to live with a new health problem.Middle school is the eleventh chapter, where the author describes her middle school experience and her success in the academic development. She describes her early interest to law that determine d the choice of her future career.Transition to CSHS, first job is the twelfth chapter that shows her early professional experience and her first job, which became a considerable contribution to her further professional development.Quotesâ€Å"One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority students achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudice that would deny them a chance to even try. It is the same prejudice that insists all those destined for success must be cast from the same mold as those who have succeeded before them, a view that experience has already proven a fallacy.† (Sotomayor,   2014, 121)This quote reveals the experience of the author as a minority student. At the same time, this quote may be viewed in the broader sense since the quote uncovers the minority-majority relationship. The author stands on the ground that the majority always underestimates the potential and achievement of representatives of minority groups. The relationship between the minority and majority is always very complicated , while the author develops the idea of the determinant role of prejudices and stereotypes which affect their relationship. According to the author, the impact of prejudices and stereotypes on the perception of the minority by the majority is overwhelming. Therefore, prejudices and stereotypes influence policies conducted by the policy makers, who represent the majority mainly. In such a situation, representatives of the minority need the adequate representation as well as they need to change the existing biases and stereotypes to prove that they are equal to representatives of the majority. In this regard, the education and professional development of Sotomayor have revealed how difficult it was for her to overcome prejudices and biases in relation of other people to her because of her Hispanic background.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Quiet pragmatism, of course, lacks the romance of vocal militancy. But I felt mys elf more a mediator than a crusader. My strengths were reasoning, crafting compromises, finding the good and the good faith on both sides of an argument, and using that to build a bridge.† (Sotomayor,   2014, 154).This quote reveals the pragmatism and flexibility of the narrator of the book. At the same time, this quote shows how important are pragmatism and diplomacy in politics and relations between people. The ability to negotiate, to compromise and to build a bridge is very important for the development of effective policies or international relations. In fact, this quote reveals the effective way to building bridges between the minority and majority as well as between different social groups. Negotiations, arguments, understanding of both sides are crucial for the development of effective relations and policies that can respect and match interests of all stakeholders. This model can be applied at the local, national or international level with equal success. The author refers to her personal experience in developing positive and successful relations with other people but this model is broader and may be applied to different fields.

Carpenter Ants, Genus Camponotus

Carpenter Ants, Genus Camponotus Carpenter ants are so named for their skill at constructing their homes from wood. These large ants are excavators, not wood feeders. Still, an established colony can do structural damage to your home if left unchecked, so its a good idea to learn to recognize carpenter ants when you see them. Carpenter ants belong to the genus Camponotus. Description Carpenter ants are among the largest ants that people encounter around their homes. Workers measure up to a 1/2 inch. The queen is slightly larger. In a single colony, you may find ants of varying sizes, however, as there are also smaller workers that reach just 1/4 inch in length. Color varies from species to species. The common black carpenter ant is, predictably, dark in color, while other types may be yellow or red. Carpenter ants have a single node between the thorax and abdomen. The top of the thorax appears arched when viewed from the side. A ring of hairs encircles the tip of the abdomen. In established colonies, two castes of sterile female workers develop – major and minor workers. The major workers, which are larger, defend the nest and forage for food. Minor workers tend to the young and maintain the nest. Most carpenter ants build their nests in dead or decaying trees or logs, though they do also inhabit landscape timbers and wooden structures, including peoples homes. They prefer moist or partially decayed wood, so carpenter ants in the home may suggest a water leak has occurred. Classification Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Arthropoda Class - Insecta Order - Hymenoptera Family - Formicidae Genus - Camponotus Diet Carpenter ants do not eat wood. They are true omnivores and not all that picky about what they will consume. Carpenter ants will forage for honeydew, the sweet, sticky excrement left behind by aphids. Theyll also eat fruits, plant juices, other small insects and invertebrates, grease or fat, and anything sweet, like jelly or syrup. Life Cycle Carpenter ants undergo complete metamorphosis, in four stages from egg to adult. Winged males and females emerge from the nest to mate beginning in the spring. These reproductives, or swarmers, do not return to the nest after mating. Males die, and females establish a new colony. The mated female lays her fertilized eggs in a small wood cavity or in another protected location. Each female lays about 20 eggs, which take 3-4 weeks to hatch. The first larval brood is fed by the queen. She secretes a fluid from her mouth to nourish her young. Carpenter ant larvae look like white grubs and lack legs. In three weeks, the larvae pupate. It takes an additional three weeks for the adults to emerge from their silken cocoons. This first generation of workers forages for food, excavates and enlarges the nest, and tends to the young. The new colony will not produce swarmers for several years. Special Adaptations and Defenses Carpenter ants are largely nocturnal, with workers leaving the nest at night to forage for food. The workers use several cues to guide them to and from the nest. Hydrocarbons from the ants abdomens mark their travels with a scent to assist them in returning to the nest. Over time, these pheromone trails become major transportation pathways for the colony, and hundreds of ants will follow the same path to a food resource. Camponotus ants also use tactile trails to find their way back and forth. Ants feel and remember the distinct edges, grooves, and ridges in tree trunks or sidewalks as they move through their environment. They also employ visual cues along the way. At night, carpenter ants use moonlight to orient themselves. To appease their appetites for sweets, carpenter ants will herd aphids. Aphids feed on plant juices, then excrete a sugary solution called honeydew. Ants feed on energy-rich honeydew, and will sometimes carry aphids to new plants and milk them to get the sweet excretion. Range and Distribution Camponotus species number about 1,000 worldwide. In the U.S., there are approximately 25 species of carpenter ants. Most carpenter ants live in forest ecosystems.