Carpenter Ant
Category: Ants
Scientific Name: Camponotus species
Identification:
Color: Red, black, or red and black
Size: ⅝ inch long
Region: Found throughout the United States; mainly in the North
Lifespan: 6-12 weeks
Important Considerations:
- Carpenter ants get their name from their nesting habits; they create nests by burrowing inside wood.
- Although carpenter ants usually begin burrowing in wood that is wet, has mold damage, or is otherwise weakened, they will quickly their tunnels into healthy wood that connects with damaged wood.
- A carpenter ant infestation can seriously compromise wood structures. If you notice carpenter ants in, on, or around your home, garage, shed, or outbuilding, call a pest control agent immediately.
Where to Find Them on Your Property?
Thankfully, carpenter ants prefer to live outside where they have access to trees to nest in. They choose places like stumps, firewood, or landscaping to create and house their colonies. Inside a building, carpenter ants are always found near a water source. They can be seen crawling along overhead wires, doors, walls, floors, and cracks that lead inside walls.