Check the National Pest Control Association web site for more information on carpenter ant inspection and treatment options. A qualified carpenter ant control specialist cannot assess the structural impact of carpenter ant damage. You need a licensed Professional Engineers to assess the structural impact of any observable carpenter ant damage. They live in colonies containing three castes, winged and wingless queens, winged males, and workers. Workers have some brown on them while queens are black.
Workers have large heads and a small thorax.
Carpenter ants have constricted waists and elbowed antennas. After mating, the males die and newly fertilized females establish a new colony in a small cavity in wood. A mature colony can take six years to develop, and may have 4,000 ants. The larger workers guard the nest, battle intruders, and explore for food. Workers are known to travel as far as 100 yards from their nest for food.