Do Carpenter Ants Have Wings?
WouterDuring the summer, you may start seeing winged carpenter ants flying around your house. They can be a sign of a mature ant colony. They can also indicate that the colony has expanded. If this is the case, you should call a pest control professional for help.
Typically, carpenter ants are wingless. When a colony is ready to breed, the workers develop wings. They become larger and stronger. Unlike other ants, they do not feed on wood. They thrive on smaller insects.
Carpenter ants are commonly found in Upstate New York. They build nests in wall or ceiling voids. They may also leave small piles of sawdust in isolated areas.
In the spring, they swarm. They may enter your home through an open window or crack. Once they find a nest, they may mate. Once they mate, the queen lays eggs. The eggs hatch into nymphs, which transform into adult ants. During their adulthood, the ants defend the nest and look for food sources.
The queen of the ant colony is responsible for ensuring that the colony is safe for the eggs to hatch. She also works on other aspects of the colony. A colony may have several nests. These nests may be located in a basement or crawl space.
Carpenter ants are considered the most common large winged ant. They are easy to identify. They are deep black and have two pairs of wings. They are about a quarter-inch to three-fourths-inch in length.
