Carpenter Ants are very adaptable large ants that make use of decaying wood and a wide variety of protected, secluded areas for nesting. Although most nest in wood, some species - like Camponotus castaneus (see below) - prefer to dwell in soil. Contrary to popular belief, Carpenter Ants (often referred to as "Wood Ants") are unable to digest cellulose and, therefore, do not eat wood. Instead, they tunnel through moist or decaying wood compromised by fungi, water, or other insects to create passageways and galleries for nesting. They rarely infest firm, intact wood. When nests are located indoors, their extensive tunnel and gallery excavations can result in major structural damage.

fig.1: Camponotus castaneus Worker carrying a Cocoon (USA) photo: courtesy of alexanderwild.com

A characteristic of most Carpenter Ant species is their practice of establishing satellite colonies overtime, as numbers within the primary nest increase. These secondary nest extensions are located adjacent to the primary nest site and can be established in a variety of places - since they do not house the queen, eggs or new larvae, which require stable humidities within their galleries.

It is not uncommon for a primary nest to be established outdoors, adjacent or near to a building, and find the satellite colonies of this nest established within secluded areas of the structure. Satellite colony indoor locations include structural voids such as: inside door hollows, wall-gap areas behind paneling, inside empty pipes and curtain rods, and foam insulation.

Primary nesting sites, in order to maintain precise humidity requirements within incubating galleries, need damp locations - whether established indoors or out.

Educated homeowners are the first line of defense against home invasion by Carpenter Ants and can be very effective when it comes to prevention, identifying early signs of infestation & preliminary control. Once established, however, Carpenter Ants are one of the most challenging and difficult species to eradicate from the home by the homeowner. Given their life cycle, multiple nest locations, concealment within wall voids, ceilings, subfloors, attics, and/or hollow door spaces, as well as their tolerance to store bought ant traps and insecticides, professional help is often warranted.

Next: Carpenter Ant Anatomy (General Anatomy, Identification Made Easy, Anatomical Differences Between Winged Carpenter Ants and Termites)

.Carpenter Ant Behaviors (Nesting, Primary Nests, Satellite Nests, New Primary Nest Formation, Nuptial Flight, Habits & Seasonal Activities; Diet & Foraging; Carpenter Ant Videos - Colony Behaviors / Nesting.)

Carpenter Ant Videos (Carpenter Nest; Carpenter Workers Removing Wood, Carpenter Ant Nest - Home Infestation)

Signs of.Indoor Infestation....Eradication ......Prevention & Ant Control.

Carpenter Ant Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda, Subphylum: Hexapoda, Class: Insecta, Subclass: Pterygota, Infraclass: Neoptera, Order: Hymenoptera, Suborder: Apocrita, Infraorder: Aculeata, Superfamily: Vespoidea, Family: Formicidae Genus: Camponotus (ITIS, 2006).

Search Terms: Large Ants; Ant Types; Ant Species; Carpenter Ants; Family: Formicidae; Genus: Camponotus; Wood Ants; Ant Videos