The sight of large, black Carpenter ants scurrying across the floor is a worrying sight for home owners because it might mean that somewhere in the house insects are chewing on wood. Ants can be distinguished from termites by their narrow wasp-waist and antennae that have an elbow bend in the middle. Termites aren't indented at the waist and their antennae are straight.
Carpenter ants are one of the most beneficial predators in the forest ecosystem.
They feed on small insects and honeydew and they scavenge dead insects and decaying material. They are particularly prolific in the moderate climate and high humidity of coastal British Columbia. For brief periods in the spring and early summer the winged Carpenter ants swarm into the air on mating flights. The queens are easy to see as they settle, shed their wings and search for crevices in decaying wood to begin their nest. Carpenter ants make two types of nests.