Carpenter ants frequently make their homes by hollowing out wood to make galleries and nests, which is how they got their name. Carpenter ants tear wood and clear it out for nesting, they don't actually digest it like termites. These ants can also nest in wall voids, or other types of voids and build galleries through wood in your home. Carpenter ants feed on the same sorts of things other ants do; other insects and household food items. There are different varieties of carpenter ants, ranging in color from black, to red and black, to red, to brown. Typically larger than most other ants, the size of a carpenter ant can be an indication of the size and maturity of its colony - bigger ants come from more mature colonies.

Keep an eye out for warning signs you may have a carpenter ant infestation. You may see the swarmers or their wings around window areas, workers foraging for food, or the debris pushed out of the galleries by the ants. This debris, called frass, collects in small piles and looks like sawdust. Frass can include bits of other building materials or insect body parts. Sometimes the makeup of the frass can be a tip off as to where the ants are nesting. Look for darker colored frass indicating nesting in decaying wood, or pieces of wall insulation or foam insulating board.

If you suspect you have carpenter ants, it is important to determine the location of the nest. If the nest is outside, a barrier should be sprayed around the house as well as localized treatments for the ants inside. If the nest is determined to be inside the home it can be controlled with traditional injections of pesticide in aerosol or dust form.