What Are Carpenter Ants?

With colder temperatures quickly approaching, insects will begin to try to enter your home, seeking warmth and shelter. One of the most common pest infestations we see with colder weather are carpenter ants. 

Today we’ll discuss the basics of carpenter ants, including what they look like, their behaviors, and the best ways to stop them from becoming a nuisance in your home.

If you suspect a carpenter ant invasion in your home, you’re probably hoping to be able to identify them and treat the problem pretty soon. Carpenter ants are indigenous to many forested areas of the world and can be found throughout the majority of the United States. Typically, they are about 5/8 inch in length. Their bodies are red, black, brown, or a unique combination of all three. 

Because of their wood-boring behaviors, carpenter ants are often mistaken for termites. While both insects can cause extensive property damage, they can be identified from their appearances. Termite bodies have two segments and a uniform body width, while carpenter ants have three segments and a pinched waist. Termites also tend to have much longer wings than carpenter ants.

Carpenter ants are known to be one of the most problematic insects due to their ability to cause extensive structural damage to homes. As their name suggests, carpenter ants tend to build their homes in wood where they dig tunnels to maneuver and find food. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t actually eat wood––instead, they chew it and discard it as waste. Instead, carpenter ants eat foods similar to other species of ants, including sweets, other insects, and other organic material.

Like any pest, they need a constant water source to survive, which is why carpenter ants live near dead, damp, or rotting wood. If they’re found outdoors, they’ll likely create nests in tree stumps, fence posts, wood shavings, or firewood. If indoors, they’re probably digging into damaged windows, crawl spaces, attics, or old wooden siding.

Identifying a carpenter ant infestation early can save you valuable time and money from damage. Here are a few key signs to be on the lookout for. 

• Presence of sawdust-like material: Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, instead they excavate it. As they create galleries in wood, they push out excess shavings. This debris looks like sawdust and often accumulates near nest openings. 
• Carpenter ant nest: A carpenter ants nest varies greatly in size and structure. There are two different types of carpenter ant nests that you may notice: parent colonies and satellite colonies. When found outdoors, carpenter ant nests are typically found in hardwood trees. Indoors, carpenter ant colonies tend to make their nests in places that offer them a stable temperature and protection from environmental conditions. 

• Rustling sounds: If you place your ear against a wall or wooden structure in your home and hear faint rustling sounds, it could likely mean carpenter ants are moving within their galleries. 
• Hollow wood: Tap on wooden structures around your home. If the wood sounds hollow, it may mean that carpenter ant colonies have damaged the internal structure. 
• Visible wood damage: In more severe infestations, you may actually notice visible damage on the wooden structures in your home. 
• Ant sightings: The most obvious sign of an infestation is actually seeing the pest. In extensive infestations, you may actually see the ants moving around the wooden structures of your home. Even if you only see a few foraging carpenter ants, there may be a mature colony living deeper within your home.

Like any pest problem, it’s always better to focus on early prevention rather than trying to treat a problem once it’s out of control. Here are a few ways to safeguard your home from carpenter ants.