Carpenter Ants—They Don't Eat Wood
They Nest in It

Carpenter ants, contrary to belief based on their name, do not eat wood. They clear places inside wood (for example, lumber) to rear their young.

They feed on plant juices, honey, fruit, insects, meats, sugar, grease and the honey dew of aphids. They even eat termites.

You can find these ants in the house, usually in the kitchen and bathroom, wherever there is a chance of moisture.

If you start finding 20 or more carpenter ants in one day in one location, it's likely that you have an infestation.

The largest ants found in the home have four different castes. They are:

• Winged queens- about 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) long
• Wingless queens- 5/8 inch (1.6 cm) long
• Winged males- smaller than 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) long
• Many sized workers- range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch (.6 to 1.25 cm) long

The life cycle from egg to adult is just under 70 days:

• The egg stage lasts for 24 days.
• The larval stage is 21 days.
• The pupal stage is about 21 days.

Carpenter Ant Control and Prevention

Control is largely based on finding the location of the nest and destroying it.

Prevention can be accomplished by doing the following:

• Fix moisture problems such as leaky roofs, leaky chimney flashing, plumbing, poorly ventilated attics and crawl spaces.
• Eliminate soil-to-wood contact beneath the house.
• Remove tree stumps close to the house.
• Seal cracks and crevices in the foundation of the house.
• Keep firewood off the ground and away from the house.

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