How Far Do Carpenter Ants Travel?
WouterWhether you live in a house or apartment, a carpenter ant infestation can be very dangerous. They can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, holes in the eaves, or service wires. They are nocturnal insects, meaning they are most active at night.
Carpenter ants build their nests in moist wood such as the underside of roof shingles and wood in water-damaged areas. They also build nests inside hollow porch columns or other spaces that are damp. Carpenter ants do not sting, but they can cause damage to wood. They are attracted to moist wood, especially around windows, bathtubs, and showers. They also feed on plant juices and insects.
Carpenter ants are very fast moving insects, and they often use pheromones to mark their foraging trails. When they find food, they mobilize into a large group. They may travel hundreds of feet to find their food source. After locating their food source, they travel back to their nest. They may leave a clear path back to their nest, or they may leave sawdust or small piles of sawdust in isolated areas.
Carpenter ants live a short life cycle, and their life span is estimated to be six to twelve weeks. They produce about 10,000 workers in a colony. Some of the workers specialize in caring for the larvae, while others engage in nest construction and colony defense.
Carpenter ants are wingless insects with a bulbous abdomen, evenly-rounded thorax, and smooth, arched back. They have six legs, and they can grow to about one inch (25 millimeters) in length.
