Carpenter Ants

Pest Description

• one node (bump between middle and rear body sections)
• black or black with a reddish-brown body
• abdomen covered in yellowish hairs
• worker ants of many sizes
• evenly rounded thorax
• sawdust outside of nests/galleries

Host Plants, Diet & Damage

• invade hollow landscape trees, log piles, etc.
• feed on living and dead insects, protein, sweets and honeydew excreted by aphids and other insects
• chew and remove wood to create galleries and tunnels

Biology, Life Cycle & Damaging Life Stage

• one queen housed in the primary nest, typically outdoors
• nest in wood, especially moist or decaying wood
• have a primary nest and separate satellite nests
• adult worker ants are the damaging life stage

IPM Recommendations

• Identify ants to determine species.
• Find nesting locations by following workers back to their nest, if possible.
• Remove and replace water-damaged or decaying wood or severely infested landscape trees.
• Prune vegetation away from structures to eliminate contact.
• Remove food and water sources.
• Seal potential ant entryways if ants are entering a structure.
• Use ant baits to help eliminate nests that are hard to find.
• Destroy nests using an appropriately labeled liquid, dust or bait insecticide.

For more information, see our Carpenter Ants fact sheet.