A typical colony of Western Carpenter Ants contains 10,000 to 20,000 workers, but could contain as many as 100,000 with only one queen. Western Carpenter Ants have dull black bodies with reddish legs. They are large (1/4 to 1/2 inch), one-node ant and they don’t have a stinger. If you look with a hand lens, you can see a circular ring of hairs at the end of the abdomen and you could see that the antennae have 12 segments.
Western Carpenter Ant nests are usually found in decayed wood of any kind. Look for rough sawdust wood piles, rotting logs and stumps when scouting for nests. Peak foraging occurs at night so start scouting at dawn or dusk. Their foraging trails can be 300 or more feet from their nest.They enter homes around doors and window frames, through eaves,along plumbing, and where tree limbs touch the house.
Carpenter ants feed on insect honeydew, plant and fruit juices, insects, and a few other things. Indoors they like to eat food crumbs including cakes, pet food, grease, eggs, and all kinds of sweets.
To control any Carpenter Ants, you must find and treat as many nests as possible. There will be a large colony and several satellite nests. Success will depend on eliminating the parent nest. Check wooden areas witha probe that will penetrate infested wood.
Granular bait will need to be applied around the base of trees harboring nests, around buildings, along ant trails and in cracks and crevices. Gel bait will need to be applied where ant enter buildings. Dust may need to be applied in voids, the perimeter will need to be sprayed.
Even if your home is stucco, brick, or stone, that doesn’t mean that carpenter ants couldn’t find a gap or hole and get inside of your structure, so be sure to check your home.