Although carpenter ants don’t cause as much damage as compared to termites and other pests, they can be problematic. They can bite, and they can leave ashes of wood on the floor. And if there is a carpenter ant infestation, they can cause structural damage to the property by digging into the wood to build their nests. If the infestation continues for a long period of time, the structural damage can be extensive. So, it’s always a good idea to treat carpenter ant infestations as quickly as possible by calling a professional pest control service provider.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

1. Find the Nest – Look for sawdust piles, hollow wood, or ant trails to locate their colony.
2. Remove Moisture Sources – Fix leaks, improve ventilation, and reduce damp areas to make the space less attractive to ants.
3. Seal Entry Points – Close gaps in windows, doors, and foundations to block access.
4. Use Boric Acid Bait – Mix boric acid with sugar or honey to create a bait that kills ants when they ingest it.
5. Apply Diatomaceous Earth – Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth near entry points to dehydrate and eliminate ants.
6. Use Vinegar Solution – Spray a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water on ant trails to disrupt their scent paths.
7. Trim Trees and Shrubs – Cut back branches touching the house to prevent ants from using them as bridges.
8. Remove Decaying Wood – Clear out rotting logs, stumps, and old wood piles to eliminate nesting sites.
9. Set Up Ant Baits – Place commercial ant bait stations near activity areas to attract and eliminate worker ants.
10. Call a Professional – If the infestation is large or inside walls, pest control experts can apply targeted treatments.

Taking these steps helps eliminate carpenter ants and prevent future infestations.

What Attracts Carpenter Ants?

1. Damp or Decaying Wood – Carpenter ants prefer moist, rotting wood for nesting, often found in leaky roofs, basements, or damaged walls.
2. Food Sources – They are drawn to sugary foods, proteins, and grease, often found in kitchens, trash bins, and pet food bowls.
3. Standing Water – Leaky pipes, clogged gutters, and damp areas provide moisture, which carpenter ants need to survive.
4. Tree Stumps and Firewood – Piles of wood, dead trees, and old stumps near homes serve as nesting sites.
5. Cracks and Openings – Gaps in doors, windows, and foundations allow ants to enter and build colonies inside walls.
6. Mulch and Soil – Thick mulch, damp soil, and garden debris create ideal environments for carpenter ants to thrive.
7. Honeydew from Aphids – Carpenter ants feed on honeydew, a sticky substance produced by aphids on plants.

Eliminating these attractants helps prevent carpenter ant infestations.

What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?

Carpenter ants are easy to identify. They are the biggest household ants with a length between six to twelve millimeters.

Another differentiating feature is their waist. While most other insect species have two nodes at their waists, carpenter ants have one. Also, other insects have unevenly shaped thoraxes, while carpenter ants have rounded thoraxes.

The color of carpenter ants can be reddish or black. Usually, carpenter ants don’t fly, but you might see some occasional flying of mature ants to build new colonies in other locations. A flying carpenter ant usually dies after mating with the female carpenter ant, making the female the queen of the nest.

The major difference between ants and termites if that wings of carpenter ants are different from that of termites. Carpenter ants have yellowish wings, and termites have white ones.

Do Carpenter Ants Bite?

Yes, under certain circumstances, carpenter ants can bite humans. But their bites are not dangerous, and they do not transmit any disease. Their bite may feel like a pinch, and you may experience a swelling or itching sensation at the site of the bite.

These are a few situations when carpenter ants are likely to bite:

• When they feel their nests are threatened, they bite in self-defense.
• When you try to attack them with a shoe or other object, they may bite.
• If you get too close to them or their nests, they may bite.

Signs of an infestation & signs of carpenter ant damage 

If you spot any of these signs, there may be a possible carpenter ant infestation:

• Large black or red ants in and around your house, usually coming out from your walls, ceilings, and other cracks and crevices
• Sawdust or piles of wood shavings beneath wooden areas like door jambs, baseboards, and window sills
• Ant trails or ant paths in your lawn. It’s an indication that ants travel to forage for food and bring it to the nest
• Hear faint rustling noises in your walls or inside your woodwork
• Shed wings of “swarmer” or flying carpenter ants near baseboards, window sills, or vents.

Finding Carpenter Ant Nests

Getting rid of carpenter ants involves locating the nest and then treating it. Carpenter ants make their nest in damp, decaying wood. These nests can be found inside or outside your home. Here are some tips for locating a carpenter ant colony:

• Check woodpiles or other wooden debris outside or inside your home for the carpenter ant colony.
• Follow trailing ants back to their origin.
• Check for wood shavings. Frass or sawdust is formed when carpenter ants dig into the wood to build nests. If you see frass in your home, the ants would be somewhere inside under beams in your attic or cellar.
• Look for swarmers. Carpenter ants nesting outside your house could get in through cracks and openings in your door frames or windows. If you find them swarming inside, it’s an indication that you have a carpenter ant infestation.
• Finding dead ants. If you find dead ants around your windows, it may indicate an interior infestation.
• Check through pipes, bathrooms, and rotting wood for signs of infestation.
• If you see damaged wood within or on the walls, cabinets, doors, etc., the carpenter ant colony might be located in there.

Always watch out for signs of carpenter ant infestations. If you suspect an infestation, contact a licensed residential pest control professional. Early intervention in getting rid of carpenter ants will ensure less serious damage to your property.