How Common Are Carpenter Ants?
WouterDespite their name, carpenter ants do not eat wood. They are social insects, and they build their nests in wood that is moist, but not wet. This type of wood is especially desirable to ants, since they can make tunnels more easily. They also tend to be nocturnal, and can be found at night.
Carpenter ants typically have a queen, several workers, and a few larvae. They live in their nests for up to 25 years. In the first year of life, a carpenter ant colony can produce 9 to 16 eggs. The queen carpenter ant sheds her wings to start a new colony.
Carpenter ants usually live in the wood of dead and living trees. They may enter a house through holes in screens, windows and eaves, or through pipes. They may also establish nests in the home.
Carpenter ants tend to be most active during the night. They make a rustling sound similar to the crinkling of cellophane. These insects are black and have a single node between the thorax and the abdomen. They can measure about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length.
Carpenter ants may be found in many areas of your home, including wood siding, the wood in your kitchen or bathroom, or even the walls of your attic. They are most likely to be found in damp wood, such as wood that is damp from a leak.
Carpenter ants are fast moving, and they can travel hundreds of feet for food. They may forage for plant matter, animal matter, and insect secretions. They also carry food back to the nest.
