Carpenter ants are a wood nesting member of the ant family. They live in all areas of the United States and feed on other insects and a variety of human foods. Carpenter ants like bees and termites are social insects that live together in colonies made up of different types of members. A carpenter ant nest contains males, queens, and workers with as many as 3,000-4,000 ants. Carpenter ants in our areas are usually black, but may vary in color.
Carpenter ants are sometimes confused with termites because they can also damage wood.
However, unlike termites, they do not eat wood, but tunnel into it to develop nests. When a colony increases in size or the present nest becomes unsuitable, they will migrate. Depending upon where they find ideal food and moisture conditions, they may build another nest in your home. In the summer they swarm. Winged reproductive appear, and they look very much like black wasps.