Carpenter Ants

Ants of the genus Camponotus are known as carpenter ants because they build their colonies in large galleries excavated in wood. These ants are large (from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch), and are black or sometimes red and black.

Under natural conditions, carpenter ants nest in live and dead trees, and in rotting logs and stumps. However, they will also construct their nests in houses, telephone  poles, and other man-made wooden structures.  Carpenter ants rarely cause structural damage to buildings. Although most carpenter ant damage is cosmetic, the ants are considered serious pests by homeowners because they forage for food inside houses. The natural food of these ants consists of honeydew from aphids, other insects, and plant juices, but they will readily forage for water and food

Control of carpenter ant infestations requires that the nest be found. Once this is done, the infested wood can be removed or treated chemically, and causes of moisture damage to the wood can be corrected. The best procedure is to inspect all possible locations-and to select these locations on the basis of potential water exposure. Once the nest is located, control can be achieved by the use of an aerosol insecticide labeled for the purpose.

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