Carpenter Ant

Unlike the notorious termite, a carpenter ant doesn’t actually eat wood. But this bug can still do damage by tunneling through wood where he builds his nest.

You might see a clue that he’s there—a small pile of chewed-up wood that he shoves outside his nest.

One carpenter ant colony can have more than 12 satellite colonies often separated by hundreds of feet, indoors and out.

Fascinating Facts

• Who wants take out? Carpenter ant workers are known to travel up to 100 yards from their nests in search of food.
• Long live the queen! Some carpenter ant queens can live more than 20 years.
• The big chill. Carpenter ants can survive really cold temperatures. That’s because they have glycerol in their bodies, the same chemical found in antifreeze!

Learn about other Ants: