Color: Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black.
Legs: 6
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 5/8″
Antennae: True
Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Their excavation results in smooth tunnels inside the wood. Carpenter ants range in size from one-quarter inch for a worker ant to up to three-quarters of an inch for a queen.
All species mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold. Even though these ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may soon begin building paths through dry, undamaged wood. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through holes for wires. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch the building far above the ground.
Carpenter ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they can pose a threat to property.
Carpenter ants build their nests outdoors in various wood sources, including tree stumps, firewood or landscaping. They need a constant water source to survive. They can enter a commercial structure via wet, damaged wood.
Because carpenter ants require a water source, eliminate sources of moisture or standing water. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house, as ants can use these branches to get into your premises. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of any of your buildings, as these ants can use these to get inside. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to any external walls, as these pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Carpenter ants eat honeydew., a sweet substance made by insects such as aphids. They’ll also feed on dead insects, fruits and meat.
Although they don’t actually eat wood, carpenter ants will make excavations in wood to build their nests, which is how they get their name.
Carpenter ants can be black, red, yellow, or a combination of colors. They are identifiable by their size – they are bigger than a lot of other ants.