Ants locate food by random searching. When a scouting ant finds promising food, she carries it or a piece of it back to the nest. Any workers she meets on the way become excited and rush toward the nest. The means of communication is unknown, but some ants leave scent trails that others can follow to the food source. Ants require water and will travel some distance for it if necessary.
Workers are able to bring water to the colony in their stomachs.
They usually nest outdoors in stumps and logs where the wood contacts the soil and moisture is plentiful, but sometimes enter homes in search of food, water or nesting sites. Carpenter ants prefer to nest in wood that has been damaged by termites or decay. They feed on honeydew from suckling insects and household food scraps and do not damage sound wood to any extent. They eject the wood in the form of a coarse sawdust. Carpenter ant galleries are kept smooth and clean and have a sandpapered appearance.