You will often have to wait for nighttime to find a trail leading to the nest. It can, however, be difficult to find the nest for a couple of reasons: Sawdust with dead ants and parts of eaten insects can signify that carpenter ants may have made a nest in that area. Their nests can be present indoors: in wood, voids of walls, and insulation, and outdoors: in stumps, firewood, and rotted fence posts. For black carpenter ants, multiple satellite nests can be present in separate spots around your property. The parent nest holds the ant queen and eggs and is typically found outdoors. If you spot carpenter ant swarmers, it may be an indication that a colony is located nearby.Ĭarpenter ants create parent nests and satellite nests in decaying, moist wood. Larger than the average carpenter ant, swarmers are 3/4 inch in size. These are winged ants that leave the colonies to mate and start their own colonies. Winged carpenter ants (also known as ‘swarmers’) are sometimes mistaken for termites. Media carpenter ants are mid-sized ants and minors are the smallest size category. Media and minor ants do most of the food gathering and colony construction. Carpenter ants feed on living and dead insects as well as anything people consume. These workers have a number of duties, including feeding the queen and larvae and defending the nest. The major workers are the largest ants in a colony and contain most of the large soldier ants. There are three size classes of these ants, each with different job classifications. They vary in color but are generally black or dark-bodied.Ĭarpenter ants range in size from ¼ - ¾ inch in length. They are usually most active during the spring and summer months and they forage for food at night. Carpenter ants are one of the largest ant species found in the United States.

Are ants nocturnal