Ants frequently forage in kitchens, pantries, and other food storage areas. They may also be found in bathrooms around sinks and tubs. Keep in mind, however, that even when a nest is established in the structural timbers, very few ants are seen inside the building. They are more active at night than during the day, and workers usually forage for food outdoors. The wood surfaces probably will not be paper-thin, as is frequently the case with termite damage, so detection is more difficult.
Inspection outdoors Inspect the grounds.
Carpenter ants may travel as far as 100 yards from nest to food source. Workers do not lay down scent trails, used by some other ants, so workers are found scattered about. Ants traveling between a nest and food sources. This could be from a tree or stump to a structure, or from one tree to another. Many times vines on buildings are used to gain access.