Carpenter Ants

We provide pest services for other variety of ants also. See our ants page.

Introduction
East of the Rocky Mountains the black carpenter ant (Camoponotus pennsylvanicus) is the most common, but the red carpenter ant (C.ferrugineus) is also common. Their name relates to their habit of living in wood and excavating nesting chambers and galleries which have a clean, smooth appearance. This nesting habit frequently results in structural damage.

5 Different Carpenter Ants

Identification
Carpenter ants are among the largest ants. Workers are (1/8-1/2") but vary greatly in size; queens are much larger (3/4-1''). The winged male reproductives are much smaller than female reproductives. These ants can be black or brown. Some have been also a black and red or black and yellowish color. The colony consists of the following type of ants pictured to the left:

Winged Female - [Top Left]

Winged Male - [Top Right]

Minor Worker - [Bottom Left]

Intermediate Worker - [Bottom Middle]

Major Worker - [Bottom Right]

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Biology
Like other ants carpenter ants are social insects living in indoor or outdoor nests. Colonies include workers, which are either majors, minors, and intermediates.

A carpenter ant colony outdoors is usually initiated by a single queen which, having emerged from a spring swarm and mated, makes or finds a small nest space under a rock or in a tree. The queen lays a few eggs and remains sealed up until these hatch into small workers. These small workers forage outside the nest and feed the queen and the new larvae. In general most of the work of carpenter ants is done by the smaller workers. The larger ones guard the nest, explore, and can expand nest in wood by tunneling, thus doing damage. A mature colony produces 200-400 flying forms each year. It is these swarms, particularly when they emerge indoors and attempt to escape through the windows, which often alert the homeowner to a carpenter ant problem.

Carpenter ants may establish nests in a number of different locations. It is important to realize that these locations can be either inside or outside the structure. Carpenter ants actually construct various kinds of nests. Parent (Brood) colonies and satellite colonies which may have a numbers of worker ants, a queen, male reproductives eggs or young larvae. The carpenter ants inside a home may have originated from the parent nest located outdoors in a tree stump, landscape timber or woodpile, or from one or more satellite nests hidden behind a wall, in a kitchen or bathroom, etc. or perhaps from wood dampened by a roof leak in the attic. Parent (Brood) and satellite colonies can exist in the home resulting in multiple nest sites.

Carpenter Ants will nest either in damp wood or close to it. They may also be found in hollow areas such as hollow doors. Ants will nest in attics near clogged gutters or areas where have been subject to water leaks.

When wood is found to be infested with Carpenter Ants, that wood has often been severely damaged by wood rot. (Rot is caused by fungi) The ants simply chew into the wood and take advantage of the high moisture content that they favor. Unlike Termites, Carpenter Ants carve the wood by chewing it, they actually cannot eat it and use it for food like Termites.

Carpenter Ants are very common in areas that have a high water table. These ants frequently seek out high moisture areas in and around structures. Though not always the case, when carpenter ants are found in a structure, usually they are there because of a moisture problem somewhere.

Carpenter ants have a broad diet and are known to forage as individuals (not in trails) up to 300 feet from the their nest, seeking food or both animal and plant origin both indoors and outdoors. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not feed on wood, but with their strong mandibles they frequently excavate wood when others cavities suitable for nesting are unavailable. Though carpenter ants are primarily nocturnal foragers, their large size makes even occasional encounter unpleasant for many people. These ants are sent out only 3-5% during the day when foraging. Under some circumstances such as when they are nesting in lawns or in logs in picnic areas, they cause a nuisance by biting people who inadvertently disturb them.

Indoors they consume and contaminate many foodstuffs found in the kitchens and storerooms. They are particularly fond of sugar, honey, meat and butter. Outdoors they feed on live and dead insects, including swarming termites. They can cause increased damage to plants by tending aphids and other honeydew-secreting insects.

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Damage
The main economic importance of carpenter ants arises from the damage they can cause to wood, including telephone poles, fence posts and timbers of buildings. Carpenter ants show some preference for existing cavities such as rot holes in tree slumps outdoors, and various indoor voids such as hollow doors and spaces around windows, doors, and fireplaces or behind shingles, baseboards or bathtub panels. However, building timbers are frequently excavated, particularly where a moisture problem has caused some decay which facilitates initial tunneling by the ants. Subsequently, galleries may be extended into sound wood and in some cases may start in sound wood as long as they can obtain moisture to hydrate the nest.

The only external indication of infestation other than the presence of workers and/or swarmers is the appearance of small openings or windows on the surface of the wood. Through these, the workers expel debris which consists of sawdust-like shavings and/or fragments of insulation and insect body parts. This is referred to by some as "Frass". The accumulation of such debris below such holes is a likely indication of an infestation.

Over a period of several years, considerable structural damage may result. Professional inspections and treatments are recommended on a regular basis.

[Click image to view damage]

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Our Services
Because most homeowner treatments are rarely successful it is recommended your home be treated by a Professional. Pest-B-Dead has the knowledge and experience to locate and destroy carpenter ant infestation. We realize the importance of not allowing a nest in or near your home. By eliminating the carpenter ant colony we remove the risk of damage these ants can cause to your home. Please contact us for more information in order to protect your home.