Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are among the largest ants in the United States,

The most common color is black, but some species have reddish or

yellowish coloration. Workers havelarge mandibles.

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Behavior, Diet & Habits

Carpenter ants reside both outdoors and indoors in moist, decaying

or hollow wood. They cut galleries into the wood grain to form their nests

and provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. This activity produces wood

shavings mixed with parts of dead ants, which provides clues to nesting locations. Carpenter ants do not eat wood, but they will feed on a variety of food people eat—particularly sweets and meats. They will also feed on other insects.

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Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Carpenter ant workers and swarmers (winged ants) are the most likely sign homeowners observe. The workers may be observed foraging for food. Swarmers usually are produced when a colony matures and is ready to form new colonies. These winged individuals often indicate a well-established colony. An additional sign of carpenter ant activity is the debris they produce from tunneling in the wood. Rough wood shavings mixed with parts of dead ants from the colony indicate carpenter ant nesting activity. A final sign may be the “rustling” sound sometimes heard as the ants go about their activity in the home’s wood.