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Carpenter Ants

Ants

About Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants can be found in the Contiguous United States Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Their excavation results in smooth tunnels inside the wood. Carpenter ants range in size from one-quarter inch for a worker ant to up to three-quarters inch for a queen. All carpenter ants mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold. Even though these ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may soon begin building paths through dry, undamaged wood. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through holes for wires. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch the building far above the ground.

Carpenter Ants Habitat

Carpenter ants build their nests outdoors in various wood sources, including tree stumps, firewood or landscaping. They need a constant water source to survive. They will enter homes through wet, damaged wood.

Carpenter Ants Threats

Carpenter ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat.

Carpenter Ants Treatment and Pest Control

A successful carpenter ant pest control strategy starts by finding the nest to then remove it and/or treat the location with green pest control products.  Then, any entry points the carpenter ants leverage to get inside need to be found and sealed, and the perimeter of the structure should be treated.

Pest Identification

Family

Camponotus species

Color

Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black.

Shape

Segmented; oval

Size

5/8"

Body Structure

Yes

Flight

No

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