Caulking the exterior cracks is a good safeguard to help keep carpenter ants out of your home. Use weather-stripping in windows and doors. Work at preventing moisture problems in your home that attract these insects. Do not allow tree branches to brush against your home, and keep any fireplace wood a distance from your house. Replace decayed wood and keep gutters free from rotting wood, leaves, and debris.
Adults range up to inch long.
Reddish brown to black in color they have slim bodies. They are limited to infestations in hardwood. You will notice a hole that is round in shape in the wood. The feeding beetle will leave a powdery dust behind, thus its name. The immature form or larvae will actually damage the hardwood.