Carpenter ants are the largest ants in North America. When mature, a western black carpenter ant colony will contain more than 50,000 individuals, of which up to 20,000 may be workers. There is generally just one queen whose body size is about 50% larger than the other individuals, who typically range from one-fourth to a little more than one-half inch in size. Winged carpenter ants, also known as swarmers, are sometimes mistaken for termites. They leave the colonies to start their own colonies. Larger than the standard carpenter ant, they get up to three-quarters inch in size. And frequently, the first sign that carpenter ants are on hand locally is the sighting of swarmers.