Carpenter Ants
Camponotus species

Color: Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black.
Legs: 6
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 5/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No

Ahh! Here it is, one of the most feared of all insects! But not to worry, while the Carpenter Ant is considered a wood-destroying insect, it is also an opportunistic and sometimes lazy insect, making nests in areas already damaged by moisture or in voids such as hollow doors and windowsills. It is one of the most frequently encountered pests and often poses the most problems when being treated. An infestation can often come from several nests both inside and outside a structure. So, if you see us being pretty thorough and meticulous when we are treating these common pests, we are doing what needs to be done. No one is immune to their attack! They can be found in the oldest house or structure or the newest. They can live in trees, tree trunks, logs, stumps, railroad ties, woodpiles, etc. Want to identify them? Look for 3 body segments, size ranging from 1/4 inch in workers to more than a 1/2 inch in queens. Look for a dull black color and one nodule located between the abdomen and thorax. They have an evenly rounded thorax and a circle of hairs at the end of the abdomen. Some species may even be reddish or have long yellow hairs. Care to get close enough to check it out? Probably not, but we will gladly identify and treat these amazing creatures.

Finding their nests can be tough. As Professionals, we can make educated conjectures based on the information you give us and what is seen while inspecting your home. After servicing, you need to give the treatment a couple of weeks to work, taking careful note of what you are observing. If, after a couple weeks you see no more ants, bingo!

But if you are still seeing them after a couple of weeks we need to come back out and make another assumption. It is like playing that game called "Battleship". You don't know where your opponent's ship is docked, so you keep track of the clues until you sink it. When are carpenter ants most active? At night, so keep your eyes open.

Habits
All species mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged. Even though these ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may soon begin building paths through dry, undamaged wood. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through holes for wires. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch a building far above the ground.

Habitat
Carpenter Ants build their nests outdoors in various wood sources, including tree stumps, firewood or landscaping. They need a constant water source to survive. They will enter homes through wet, damaged wood.

Threats
Carpenter Ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat.

Prevention:
Because Carpenter Ants require a water source, eliminate sources of moisture or standing water. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the base of your home, sometimes pests use these to get into a structure. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.