Camponotus socius is characterized by a variegated gaster somewhat resembling that of a wasp, having deep bronze to apricot orange bands on each tergite that vary in extent and intensity depending on the local population and environment.

This species is polymorphic with the minor caste exhibiting elongated heads and spindly body proportions as characteristic of carpenter ants in the subgenus Tanaemyrmex.

C. socius exclusively prefers areas with well draining sandy soils with partial or extensive shade coverage to live in, such as in xeric sandhill habitats for which they're named after.

Excavating workers put great effort into carrying material far from the nest to avoid any mound building, with the refuse deposited irregularly a couple centimeters away from the entrance.

Like other carpenter ants, C. socius is an omnivorous opportunist where the workers will readily prey or scavenge upon arthropods or forage on native shrubs for honeydew excreted by sap-sucking hemipterans.

Typical of large carpenter ants in North America, C. socius experiences a period of diapause which may extend for as long as 2 - 3 months in the northernmost extent of their range.

Within Florida they are most commonly found in remaining longleaf pine sandhill or xeric hammock habitat, with an apparent preference for the latter as populations appear most dense in upland forests dominated by oaks.