Carpenter Ant
Overview & Quick Facts
Keep ants out of your home or business with
effective identification and control strategies.
A Closer Look at Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants may not eat wood like termites, but don’t be fooled—they can still cause significant damage to your home. Known for their large size and wood-excavating habits, these ants are strong, persistent, and often a sign of underlying moisture issues.
🐜 What Are Carpenter Ants?
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Scientific name: Camponotus spp.
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Size: ¼ to ½ inch long (queens even larger)
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Color: Usually black, but some species are reddish, yellowish, or bi-colored
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Notable feature: Elbowed antennae, evenly rounded thorax, and a single node between body segments
🪵 Do Carpenter Ants Eat Wood?
No. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not consume wood. Instead, they excavate it to build nests, leaving behind smooth tunnels and galleries. They prefer damp or decaying wood, which makes them a secondary indicator of moisture damage.
🏡 Where Do They Nest?
Outdoors, they nest in:
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Tree stumps
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Firewood piles
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Rotting fence posts
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Hollow tree trunks or branches
Indoors, they often build satellite nests in:
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Wall voids
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Window and door frames
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Attics and crawlspaces
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Around leaky plumbing or roof leaks
⚠️ Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation
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Frass (a mix of wood shavings, dead ants, and debris) near baseboards or windowsills
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Rustling sounds inside walls, especially at night
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Large black ants spotted indoors, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms
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Winged swarmers in spring or early summer, indicating a mature colony
🧠 Fun Fact
Carpenter ants live in complex colony systems with a main nest (usually outdoors) and satellite nests (often indoors). Even if you eliminate the ants inside, the problem can persist if the parent colony isn’t found and removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Carpenter Ants
What are Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants (Camponotus species) are large wood-excavating ants that build nests by chewing through damp or decaying wood. Unlike termites, they don’t eat the wood, but they can still cause structural damage.
How big are Carpenter Ants?
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Workers: ¼ to ½ inch long
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Queens: Up to ¾ inch long
They are among the largest ants in North America.
What do Carpenter Ants look like?
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Color: Black, red, or a combination of both
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Body shape: Smooth, rounded thorax; single node between body segments; elbowed antennae
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Winged swarmers resemble flying termites but have uneven wing sizes and pinched waists
Do Carpenter Ants eat wood?
No. They do not eat wood—they excavate it to create smooth tunnels and galleries for nesting. They are often found in damp or rotting wood.
Where do they nest?
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Outdoors: Tree stumps, logs, firewood piles, old fences
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Indoors: Wall voids, attics, under windows, behind dishwashers, or near plumbing leaks
They often maintain a main colony outdoors and satellite nests indoors, especially in humid or water-damaged areas.
What do Carpenter Ants eat?
They’re omnivores and eat:
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Honeydew from aphids
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Sweets (syrups, sugar)
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Proteins (meat, insects, pet food)
They forage mostly at night and leave chemical trails for others to follow.
Are Carpenter Ants dangerous?
They aren’t directly harmful to people, but:
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They bite if provoked
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Their presence can signal moisture damage
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Over time, they can weaken structural wood
How can I tell if I have Carpenter Ants?
Signs include:
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Sawdust-like frass near baseboards or windows
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Rustling sounds inside walls
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Large black ants seen indoors, especially at night
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Winged ants indoors, especially in spring (swarming season)
How do I get rid of Carpenter Ants?
Effective removal often requires:
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Locating and treating the main nest
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Eliminating satellite nests inside structures
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Moisture repair (leaks, wood rot)
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Professional pest control, especially for widespread infestations
How can I prevent Carpenter Ants?
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Fix leaks and water damage
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Trim vegetation away from the home
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Seal entry points around windows, doors, and foundations
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Store firewood off the ground and away from buildings
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Keep food stored and crumbs cleaned up
Struggling with ants in your home or yard? Whether it's fire ants, carpenter ants, ghost ants, or any other species, Hannan Environmental Services offers expert ant control and prevention throughout South Florida. Our trained technicians provide safe, effective, and long-lasting solutions to keep your home pest-free. Contact us today for reliable service you can trust! Feel free to also reach out to Hannan Environmental Services on Facebook!