Other names: Big black ant

Color: Light/dark black to light red
Size: 5/8″
Legs: 6
Diet: Honeydew (a sweet liquid produced by aphids and scale insects), nectar, sweet juices and other insects
Hazard: Damage wood

 

Where to find them: Damp or damaged wood

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Carpenter ants don't eat wood as termites do. They make tunnels to create pathways between different parts of the nest. They remove the wood and deposit the debris outside of their nests in small piles. Look for these piles when looking for carpenter ants. 

 

Carpenter ants are fairly large and are typically black or dark brown in color, but may also have some light red parts.

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If You Have Carpenter Ants, You Likely Have a Moisture Problem
 

Carpenter ants get their name from their nesting habit, which is living in water damaged wood. In nature, they live in the hollows of live and dead trees or stumps.

 

Carpenter ants are commonly found in:

• Wall voids

• Insulation

• Hollow doors

• Other wooden structures with excess moisture
   

Their favorite food comes from the excretions of plant lice, such as aphids, called honeydew.

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Their nest can become fairly large with thousands of workers, but only one queen. These nocturnal insects can travel long distances from their nest looking for food up to 300 feet away from the colony.

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Look for the following signs if you suspect a carpenter ant infestation:

• Wood shavings on the floor that look like saw dust, often mixed with dead ants

• Swarming winged ants

• Live ants looking for food

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Call High Rock Pest Control Today to Reclaim Your Home from Carpenter Ants!

If you leave your carpenter ant problem untreated, the colony may grow and spread causing serious damage. It’s best to contact a pest control professional when you first stop any signs of an infestation. 

 

Call High Rock Pest Control today to discuss your carpenter ant problem:  216-202-4398.