Carpenter Ants
Species
Carpenter Ant Facts
- Size: workers run from about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, and winged queens are larger.
- Habitat: damp, softened or damaged wood, hollow spaces and old stumps. In Florida they also nest under palm frond bases, in landscape timbers and in wall voids.
- Color: depends on the species. The Florida carpenter ant has a reddish orange head and middle with a black abdomen, while some other species are all black.
- Name: they carve smooth tunnels in wood to make room for the colony. They do not eat the wood.
Carpenter Ant Behavior
Carpenter ants go for wood that moisture has already softened. Leaky gutters, rotted window sills, damp deck boards and wood resting on soil are typical starting points. From there they may push into nearby sound wood or hollow spaces. Outdoors, colonies run trails along fence lines, tree limbs, utility wires and the edges of lawns and walkways, and some use runways under mulch or soil to reach food.
Most of their foraging happens at night. Outside, a big part of their diet is honeydew, the sweet liquid that aphids, scale insects and mealybugs leave on plants, along with live and dead insects. Inside, they look for sugary foods, grease, meat scraps and pet food. A worker usually scouts alone, then lays a scent trail so others can find a good food source. Food goes back to the nest and is shared with the rest of the colony, including the larvae and the queen. Colonies grow slowly, and it takes a few years before one starts producing winged swarmers.
Carpenter Ants Photos
Black Carpenter Ant
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