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Carpenter Ants

Insight and understanding that only a Licensed Engineer can provide
Over 80,000 inspections performed since 1968

Carpenter Ants can infest a house or building and cause structural damage.  Their diet includes termites, so the two usually do not co-exist in the same area of a building.

A Licensed Professional Engineer can assess the structural impact of any carpenter ant damage.  If repairs are needed, a written cost analysis is provided in the engineering report.

Carpenter ants do not eat wood.  They excavate wood galleries to create nests.  Since they do not use wood as a food source, their damage to a building may be limited.  Nonetheless, carpenter ants can damage a building.

A qualified carpenter ant control specialist should be called in to recommend treatment options to control an existing carpenter ant infestation.  A qualified carpenter ant control specialist can also recommend control options to help prevent future carpenter ant infestations.  Check the National Pest Control Association web site for more information on carpenter ant inspection and treatment options.

A qualified carpenter ant control specialist cannot assess the structural impact of carpenter ant damage.  You need a Licensed Professional Engineer to assess the structural impact of any observable carpenter ant damage.

More About Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are among the largest ants found in buildings. They live in colonies containing three castes, winged and wingless queens, winged males, and workers. Workers have some brown on them while queens are black.  Workers have large heads and a small thorax.  Carpenter ants have constricted waists and elbowed antennas.

Winged male and female carpenter ants (known as swarmers) emerge from mature colonies, usually from early Spring through mid-Summer.  After mating, the males die and newly fertilized females establish a new colony in a small cavity in wood.  A mature colony can take six years to develop, and may have 4,000 ants.  The larger workers guard the nest, battle intruders, and explore for food.  Workers are known to travel as far as 100 yards from their nest for food.  Smaller workers expand the nest and care for the young.

Nests are usually established in soft, moist wood.  Occasionally, nests may be established in an existing wood cavity that is dry.  Workers cut galleries in the wood to expand the nest size.  These galleries are irregular, with smooth walls.   Shredded wood fragments, which look like sawdust, are carried from the nest and deposited outside.  An active colony may produce a distinct, dry rustling sound similar to the crinkling of cellophane.

The Difference Between
Termites and Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ant	Termite

Flying ants and swarming termites are often difficult to tell apart.  Ants have elbowed antennae, while termites have relatively straight, bead-like antennae.  Flying ants have two pairs of wings, but one pair is much larger than the other.

Termites have two pairs of wings that are of almost equal length.  The thorax of the ant are joined by a narrow waist, while the thorax of the termite is broadly joined.  When seen in homes and buildings, termites are much smaller than this illustration.  Check out our photographs of termites and termite activity.

Regardless of whether you see ants or termites, you should have the situation evaluated by a qualified pest control specialist.  Check the National Pest Control Association web site for more information on termite inspection and treatment options.

Some home inspection companies offer “free” termite inspections.  Click here to learn the truth about “free” termite inspections.

Call 800.640.8090 or use the online form 24/7 for more information.
 

Call 800.640.8090, or click here to contact Heimer Engineering 24/7.

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This page was last reviewed on February 26, 2008.
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