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Here in Massachusetts, Carpenter Ants (Camponotus), often called “Black Ants”, typically excavate tunnels in wood that is moist or has been wet in the past.
Unlike Termites that actually eat the wood as a food source, Carpenter Ants are only tunneling into wood to house their ant colony. Unfortunately this tunneling can cause serious damage to wood.
Ants can enter buildings through small gaps around doors and windows, utility and pipe penetrations, behind siding and trim or through rotted or damaged wood.
These black ants will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs and tree limbs that touch the building. Even branches high above the ground can allow the Carpenter Ants to access.
Carpenter ants build nests in tree stumps, fence posts, firewood, landscaping, insulation or anywhere moisture is present. A colony can have multiple nests inside structures as well as outdoors. Carpenter Ants need a constant source of moisture to survive.
A quality ant exterminator is able to locate nesting sites and treat the ant colony directly. Specialized equipment is used to inject treatment materials deeper into voids, cracks and crevices, where the ants like to hide.
In early spring, homeowners often find large black ants with wings around the structure. These winged reproductive ants are known commonly as Ant Swarmers.
These swarming ants are future ant queens that are looking to establish their own colony. If you find large black ants or Carpenter Ants with wings, there is likely a nest within the structure or close by.
Carpenter Ants over-winter in their main colony nests. They don’t truly hibernate like some pest species. In colder months the ants do go into a dormant inactive period.
