Carpenter Ant

Genus Camponotus

• Appearance: Among the largest ants, from 1/4" to 3/8" long; most common species is black, but some have reddish or yellowish coloration; workers have large mandibles.
• Habits: Normally nest in dead portions of standing trees, stumps or logs, or burrow under fallen logs or stones; invade homes in search of food; nests inside homes can do great damage; hollow out "galleries" in wood that are so smooth they appear to be sandpapered.
• Diet: Do not eat wood; will feed on nearly anything people eat, particularly sweets and meats; also feed on other insects.
• Reproduction: Queen lays 15 to 20 eggs the first year, and up to 30 eggs the second year; eggs complete their life cycle in about 60 days; worker ants can live up to seven years, while a queen may live up to 25 years.
• Other Information: All kinds of houses, regardless of age or type of construction,are vulnerable to infestation and damage by carpenter ants; very difficult to control; colonies can contain up to 3,000 workers.