Facts: Carpenter Ants
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.
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