Beach edge dwelling ants, ID please!

[Herpetologydude]

Got some interesting shots from the beach of these ants that build their nests on the plants growing at the edge of the sand dunes. Any idea on the species?

 

[dtknow]

well, they are tending to what look like scale insects in those photos-those are not the nests. They likely live quite some distance away.

 

[myrmecophile]

Camponotus, most likely C. floridanus.

 

[Herpetologydude]

Thanks guys!

Yes upon closer inspection I see that those are Scale bugs now! apparently this is a common occurrence in a few species of ants to harvest the buggers and eat some material they produce. Very cool stuff, gotta love Hymenopterans!