Carpenter Ant Identification in Florida

What Are Carpenter Ants?

If you ever see ants that look too big to be ants, or if you see flying ants, there’s a good possibility that they are Florida carpenter ants, one of the most common ants in Florida. Carpenter ants are large black or reddish-colored ants that nest in wood, indoors and outdoors. 

Carpenter ant infestations can be frustrating, especially since they can be damaging to our furniture, home foundation, and the trees in our yards. If you find this kind of damage in your home, it’s a good indicator that carpenter ants are nesting in the damage, or nearby. The key to getting rid of a carpenter ant infestation is finding the ant nest. 

How to Find a Carpenter Ant Nest

When you first attempt to get rid of a carpenter ant nest, the first thing you may try to do is follow a carpenter ant trail to the ant nest. You may consider their movement patterns and their pheromone trails. Carpenter ants use pheromone trails left by the rest of the colony to track down the colony and locate the nest. 

If you suspect any potential carpenter nest areas, knock on the wood (no pun intended). If you hear a hollow sound, it’s a good indicator that it’s a carpenter ant nest. These could be indoors or outdoors. 

Inside your home, it’s common to find carpenter ant nests in doors, windows, trim, and often inside walls. This makes it tricky to pinpoint the exact location of the nest; it’s usually where you'd struggle to find it. 

In your yard, carpenter ants will nest in old trees, tree stumps, logs, and pretty much any other kind of rotting wood you have outside. 

Another way to locate a carpenter ant nest is to look for frass (droppings). Take note that if you see frass in your home, it could also be a sign of termites. We recommend that you schedule a free termite inspection with Native Pest Management if you’re seeing frass in your home and aren't 100% sure it’s from carpenter ants. 

If you know the frass is from termites, it’s a good indicator that a carpenter ant nest is near. The frass can contain wood debris, dead insect parts, soil, and gravel. 

Water Sources For Carpenter Ants

You probably know by now that carpenter ants are drawn to wood for their shelter, but did you know they’re also drawn to water? All ants need water to survive, and you can find carpenter ants near water sources, including in the kitchen and bathroom. Usually, this will indicate an issue with your plumbing such as a leak. 

If you find carpenter ants in these areas of water, we recommend that you get your plumbing checked for leaks. Not only will this help repel carpenter ants, but it'll also repel other common ants in Miami like ghost ants, pavement ants, and pharaoh ants. 

Other water sources for carpenter ants are damp, rotting wood, or moist areas of your house. If you have a moisture issue, consider improving the ventilation in your home by turning your air conditioning to a cooler temperature, investing in a better air conditioner, and running fans.