Are you wondering what carpenter ants look like? Since there are more than 12,000 species of ants globally, it can be daunting to identify an exact species of ant. However, in this article, we’ll go through some things that can help you distinguish between carpenter ants, other ants, and other similar creatures.
What Are Carpenter Ants?
When trying to determine if you have carpenter ants, it’s important to know a little bit about their behavior before you focus on what a carpenter ant looks like and their appearance. Carpenter ants are ant species from the Camponotus genus. Their name comes from the fact that they build their nests by excavating through moist wood. You’re likely to find them on rotting logs and stumps, around windows, on porches, under decks, or inside the roof. These pests feed on other insects or household items such as sugar, honeydew, jelly, meat, syrup, and fat.
They stay in colonies that contain different specialized castes, including queens, workers, and reproductive swarmers. Carpenter ants are common in the US, and Upstate New York is no exception. Homeowners throughout Buffalo, Saratoga, Syracuse, and Albany often have issues with this pest, but you’ll also find carpenter ants across the world.
Carpenter ants can often be confused with termites as both damage wood. However, unlike wood termites, which feed on wood, carpenter ants carve through the wood by removing sawdust-like bits known as frass to make their homes. Carpenter ants can be frustrating since they inflict gradual but permanent damage on wood. If you are concerned about these insects near your home, familiarize yourself with signs that carpenter ants are in your home.
What Does A Carpenter Ant Look Like?
Although you may find a vast array of pests that look like carpenter ants crawling around your home, there are a few things that can help you identify them outside of their behavior.
Size
The first thing you need to look at is the size. Of all the ants, carpenter ants are the largest. They can measure anything from 4mm to 12mm in length. However, it is essential to know that size may not be a reliable identification factor since various colony members vary in size.
Color
It is also challenging to identify a carpenter ant by its color since different species come with different hues. However, they come in dark brown, black, red, or yellow colorations.
For example, the western carpenter ant species tends to be dull black and boast gold hairs on their abdomens and reddish legs.
Other Characteristics
Carpenter ants also boast other unique features that you can use to identify them. One such part is the thorax. Unlike other pests and insects, which have irregular shaped thorax, carpenter ants have a rounded thorax. Therefore, if the segment just below the head is round, you may be looking at a carpenter ant.
You can also use a magnifying glass to observe other features, such as a heart-shaped head and a circle of hairs around the anus. When you look closely between the thorax and the abdomen of a carpenter ant, you’ll discover that unlike field ants, odorous and crazy ants, carpenter ants have a single node at their waist.
Is It True That Carpenter Ants Can Fly?
Yes, some carpenter ants can fly. This is a key indicator when you’re evaluating a critter to determine if it is a carpenter ant. The most common carpenter ants you’ll likely encounter in your home are the workers, which are wingless. However, during spring and early in summer, winged males and females swarm to look for greener pastures. This winged development stage is the main reason why these lots of ants are known as swarmers. In other words, if your goal is to know what a carpenter ant looks like, know that it may or may not have wings.
When carpenter ants are swarming, they look like termites, and it can be challenging to differentiate between the two. However, there are visual differences between what a carpenter ant looks like compared to a termite. For starters, unlike termites, which have a thick waist, carpenter ants have a thin and noticeable waist. Additionally, while termites have a straight antenna, carpenter ants have clubbed or bent antennae. Lastly, carpenter ants have longer legs as compared to wood termites.
Why Are Carpenter Ants A Problem?
Since these pests create their homes by carving hollow chambers in wood, this can lead to the wood becoming weak. This process of ruining wood can compromise an entire structure’s structural integrity, putting families at risk. Wood structures with hollowed chambers are vulnerable to breaking and collapse when there are strong winds or storms. Carpenter ants can also be bothersome because they feed on household items such as syrup, sugar, and honey. And if you disrupt their operations, they can use their mandibles to bite you.
Now that you are more familiar with what carpenter ants look like, if you determine that carpenter ants lurk inside your home or around your property, learn about how to get rid of them.
