At certain times of the year, some may have wings. A magnifying glass and these illustrations will help distinguish carpenter ants from other ants.
Carpenter ants are social insects that form large colonies in moist, soft, decaying wood.
The ants create tunnels within the decaying wood where they live and raise their young. Carpenter ants do not invade sound, dry, undecayed wood. The ants feed on a variety of household foods, such as sweets, meats, fruits and cakes. Natural foods include other insects, plant sap, pollen, fruit and seeds. Carpenter ants do not eat wood, but shred it into sawdust and discard it through exit holes.