Not to be confused with the more common household ants, these insects can be up to a half-inch long. Their chewing damages the frame work of wood structures. They're mostly a problem in rural mountainous areas, but they may also invade buildings in urban areas. You can exclude carpenter ants from buildings by caulking cracks and blocking other entrances. Keep branches of trees and shrubs pruned away from homes and eliminate food sources inside buildings.
Carpenter ants enter buildings in search of food.
If you suspect they have entered the home, it is best to have a pest control company help you. Outdoors, eliminate damp conditions that promote wood decay. Increase ventilation to damp areas beneath the house and in attics. Also, store your firewood up off the ground and several feet from buildings to discourage colonies. Carpenter ants cannot sting, but if handled they can inflict a painful bite with their powerful jaws.