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Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants do not eat wood, but they do tear wood apart to nest in it. The interior of the carpenter ant nest is clean and smooth - almost as if sanded. 

The Carpenter ant is considered a wood destroying insect by state law. Carpenter ants should not be ignored - but they do not do the same type of damage you would get from the dreaded subterranean termite. 

The carpenter ant eats other insects, mainly the liquid inside, and insect secretions from aphids and other plant lice.

These ants come in many different sizes and colors but only one shape.  It is very common in our area to experience carpenter ant activity.  Note the photo to the right and the descriptive text.

Homes will often have a carpenter ant problem for years before the ants are noticed. Queens will live up to 30 years and workers for 8. Main nest sites are rarely in homes but rather are part of a larger colony system.

Carpenter ant main nest sites are ALWAYS located somewhere that never freezes or dries out - so usually you are talking about wood below ground level - such as dead wood in a living tree or a stump.  Cedar trees are common main nest sites.

Colonies can be quite large covering several neighborhoods with nests up to a couple hundred yards apart. Nests in homes are referred to as satellite nests.  These nests may have up to a hundred thousand members each but are often smaller.  It is possible for a home to have more than one satellite nest.

Link to larger image

Is it a carpenter ant? Note the smoothly convex (rounded top) middle section (thorax) and the single node between the middle and last section (gaster).

Pics, More info, and Vids!

For more information including additional pictures and videos on the identification of the carpenter ant, carpenter ant prevention, and carpenter ant treatment visit our carpenter ant main page.