Carpenter Ant Facts & Information

Carpenter ants earn their name by excavating wood to create a nesting area. Debris from this is often seen before the ants. Satellite nests are usually first to establish indoors. Water is a necessary resource for these ants.

Carpenter ants make two kinds of nests: main and satellite. The main nest is larger and houses the queen. The satellite is a remote nest of workers. They like to nest near water and will clear the galleries of all debris.

Carpenter ant bites hurt. They have strong mandibles which are used to clamp down. Chemicals can leak from their glands into the wound causing irritation. Often, people are attacked because they disturb a carpenter ant nest.

Carpenter ants are very large and nest in wood. Workers often enter homes looking for food and establish a nest when a source is found. Wood shavings are often a first sign of their presence. They can do a lot of damage.