Latin Name:

Camponotus

Appearance: Easily distinguishable due to their size, carpenter ants are 1/4 to 1/2 inches long and are one of the largest ants in New Jersey. They are commonly black in color and often have large mandibles.

Habit: Given their name due to the damage they cause to homes and other structures, carpenter ants cut “galleries” in wood to create nests. They do not feed on wood like termites, but will use moist or decaying wood as nesting and breeding sights. Thriving both indoor and outdoor all year-round, they will often create nests outdoors while still traveling into homes to forage for food. The chewed up wood particles that they leave behind called “frass” are an indicator that carpenter ants may be damaging the wood in that area.

Diet: Carpenter ants prefer to feed on human food like sweets and meat products, but will also consume other insects.

Reproduction: Carpenter ant queens will commonly lay 20 to 30 eggs per year and can live up to twenty years, with workers living up to seven. Carpenter ants can make their homes in porches, windowsills, roofs, and almost any wood that is in contact with the soil. To effectively eliminate them, their nest must first be found. This can be done by watching their activity at night when they are most active and following them to where they are entering the home or structure. Controlling moisture problems and replacing damp wood is also recommended when treating or attempting to prevent carpenter ants.

Species:

Lasius interjectus

Traits and Appearance: Averaging from ¼ inch to ½ inches in length, and entirely yellow in color. The common name, “Citronella Ant”, comes from the citrus odor that is released when a worker ant is stepped on. Citronella ant swarmers have black wings and are often seen during the mid to late summer. Other common names for these ants are “moisture ants” and “yellow ants”.

Habit and Habitat: Citronella ants nest in soil and are most often found outdoors making nests under rocks, logs, and concrete slabs. They excavate tunnels underneath these objects and create soil mounds around their exit tubes. They require high moisture levels to survive and are usually found in homes with water damage or in areas of high humidity.

Diet: Citronella ants feed on the honeydew that other insects acquire from feeding on plant roots.

Reproduction: Citronella ants swarm in mid to late summer looking to establish new colonies.

General Information: Winged ants are commonly seen swarming during the the spring and summer months and are usually seen after a heavy rainfall.

Traits and Appearance: Winged ants can be identified by their elbowed antennae and tapered abdomen. They come in various colors and sizes dependent on the species. Winged ants are are often confused for termite swarmers, but can be distinguished by their elbowed antenna and tapered abdomen.

Habit and Habitat: They are often seen during the summer months after heavy rainfall. They can enter the home by swarming near it or creating a nest in a wall void or underneath the concrete slab.

Reproduction: Ant colonies consist of at least one egg producing queen, workers, and winged reproductives. Winged ants are generally the reproductive males and females that will travel off to mate and create new colonies.