Front wings larger than hind wings. Antennae elbowed, with 6-13 segments. The first segment is longer than the others.
Carpenter ants build nests in wood, in logs, stumps,telephone poles, and buildings.
Throughout the world. Carpenter ants live according to a rigid social structure, with each colony containing a queen, who lays thousands of eggs over the course of her lifetime, and thousands of workers, who gather food, care for the young ants, and protect the colony. Their jaws will remain locked until the incision heals. You'll most likely find carpenter ants raiding your house in early spring, when the flowers that they feed on later in the summer haven't started to produce nectar. Ants are warm, dry and aphrodisiac and their acid smell wonderfully enlivens the vital spirits.