HABITAT
Florida carpenter ant species reside both outdoors and indoors in moist, decaying or hollow wood. They cut “galleries” into the wood grain to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. Certain parts of a house, such as around and under windows, roof eaves, decks and porches, are more likely to be infested by Carpenter Ants because these areas are most vulnerable to moisture.
BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
Sweets and proteins are the preferred food sources. Protein sources include both living and dead insects. Sweets included honeydew and sugar sources inside homes. These ants forage alone or in groups. Foraging ants are more likely to follow structural guidelines than trails. Peak foraging activity occurs at night. Colonies have a single queen. Workers are polymorphic.
DISTRIBUTION
Southeastern United States