Carpenter ants

While ants are often considered merely nuisance pests, carpenter ants, Camponotus spp., are a different story. These large ants, ranging from 6 to 12 millimeters in length, are highly destructive because they make their nests inside wood. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood but rather excavate it to form tunnels and galleries for their nests.

It’s important to recognize the signs of an ant infestation because when carpenter ants invade homes, they can cause significant structural damage, leading to costly repairs and long-term issues when left unnoticed.

Characteristics

Carpenter ants have unique characteristics that make them easier to identify than other types of ants. Typically black or dark reddish-brown, they are some of the largest ants found in North America. These ants also have a narrow, one-node waist and a smooth thorax, which helps them stand out from other ants. 

Known for their strong mandibles, carpenter ants use these jaws to chew through wood, creating smooth tunnels that weaken the structure of buildings over time.

Carpenter ants are more active at night when they forage for food. Their diet consists of sugary liquids, sweets, dead insects, and food scraps. Unlike other ants that might only make brief appearances in search of food, carpenter ants are drawn indoors because they often look for a new nest site. Once they’ve located an ideal spot, they establish colonies that can grow to thousands of ants over time.

Identification

Knowing how to identify carpenter ants correctly is crucial for taking the right steps to control and eliminate them. Misidentification can lead to ineffective treatments, allowing these pests to continue damaging your property. Here’s how to tell if you’re dealing with carpenter ants:

1. Size and color: Carpenter ants are usually larger than most other ants, measuring between 6 and 12 millimeters in length. They are typically black or dark brown, although some may have a reddish hue.

2. Single-node waist and smooth thorax: Carpenter ants have a single-node waist, a circle of hair at the tip of the abdomen and a smooth, evenly rounded thorax.

3. Wood shavings (frass): One of the telltale signs of a carpenter ant infestation is the presence of frass, which looks like sawdust and may be found near nest sites. This frass is a byproduct of their wood excavation and is often mistaken for sawdust.

4. No stingers, but strong mandibles: Carpenter ants lack a stinger but can deliver a pinch with their strong mandibles if provoked.

Habitat

Carpenter ants have specific nesting habits and habitat preferences. Outdoors, they establish colonies in damp, decayed wood such as tree stumps, logs, or rotting fence posts. They may also nest in firewood, dead trees, or landscape timbers. Their preference for moisture-rich environments is why they’re commonly found in areas with moisture problems.

Indoors, carpenter ants look for similar conditions and are often found in moist, decaying wood around leaky windows, plumbing areas, or roof leaks. They may also nest in wooden structures that have been weakened by moisture, including wall voids, crawl spaces, and the areas around sinks and bathrooms.

Carpenter ants require established food and water sources to thrive, so addressing water leaks and wood decay issues can be an effective preventative measure.

Carpenter ants in America

Carpenter ants are widely distributed across North America, especially in forested or wooded regions where they can thrive in moist environments. 

Certain areas, such as the East Coast, the Pacific Northwest, and parts of the Midwest, are particularly vulnerable to carpenter ant infestations because of the prevalence of older homes and the damp climates these ants favor. However, they are adaptable and can survive in drier areas by establishing nests in shaded or protected areas where moisture is available.

In urban and suburban areas, carpenter ants are frequently drawn to homes with older wood or areas prone to decay. As they build their nests within the structure of a building, their tunneling can cause significant structural damage over time, leading to repairs that can cost homeowners thousands of dollars. 

Unlike termites, which consume wood, carpenter ants hollow it out, often leading to weakened walls, beams, and wooden structures that eventually need replacement or reinforcement.

Carpenter ant behaviors, threats, or dangers

Carpenter ants tend to establish large colonies and satellite nests in various locations. Though it’s not always easy, carpenter ants’ ability to rapidly reproduce means it’s best to prevent the ants from entering your home in the first place.

The carpenter ants’ main colony usually resides outdoors, often in rotting wood. From here, they can create satellite nests indoors, especially if they find wood that’s easy to excavate or if there are moisture issues. This nesting pattern can make it challenging to control carpenter ants without professional help, as treating only one nest site often leaves the others intact.

In addition to their wood-destroying habits, carpenter ants may also contaminate food by carrying microorganisms from an unsanitary area to another. And although they don’t pose health risks through bites or stings, their tunneling weakens structural components, posing a significant risk to buildings over time. 

When carpenter ants damage walls, floors, and beams, they leave behind trails of wood shavings as they expand their nests. This frass is one of the few visible signs of their destructive presence.

Are carpenter ants hard to get rid of?

Yes, due to their nesting behavior and the difficulty of accessing their colony sites, carpenter ants can be tough to eliminate without professional pest control. Traditional methods often fail to reach the entire colony, and satellite nests may continue to thrive even if a primary nest is removed. Unlike ants that form a single colony, carpenter ants may have several nesting sites spread across a property.

Many homeowners attempt to treat these ants with over-the-counter pesticides or DIY solutions, but these methods often fall short, as carpenter ants tend to relocate when they detect danger. However, DIY solutions will likely only get rid of ants in a concentrated area. Professional ant control services are the most effective approach if your infestation is more widespread.

Our experts at Ehrlich pest control identify all nest sites, including satellite nests, and use targeted treatments to eliminate the entire colony. We can also recommend preventative measures, such as sealing cracks, fixing leaks, and removing any rotting wood, to prevent future infestations. Contact us today.

How many carpenter ants count as an infestation?

Seeing a single carpenter ant in your home doesn’t necessarily mean you have an infestation, as these ants can sometimes enter homes simply while foraging for food. However, frequent sightings of multiple ants, particularly in areas with wood shavings or moisture, are a strong indicator of an infestation. 

If you notice winged ants in the spring or early summer, this can indicate that a colony is established nearby, as these reproductive swarmers leave the nest to create new colonies. Additionally, if you see any indoor activity during the winter months, it indicates an infestation.

FAQs

 Need help with carpenter ant control?

Carpenter ants, despite their interesting traits and the benefits they offer to the ecosystem, can be a serious threat to your home’s structure. Effective control requires addressing moisture problems, sealing entry points, and, often, hiring a professional pest control service that can tackle hidden nests. 

If you’re dealing with carpenter ants, contact Ehrlich pest control. We assess the situation and help safeguard your property against these destructive pests.