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Carpenter Ants

Don't Be Fooled Carpenter Ants & Termites Can Look Very Similar!

There are 8 species of Carpenter Ants Found in Colorado Including "Swamers" Which is the Flying Form of Carpenter Ants.  They build nests inside wood consisting of galleries chewed out with their mandibles, preferably in dead, damp wood. They do not consume the wood, however, unlike termites. Sometimes, carpenter ants hollow out sections of trees. They also commonly infest wooden buildings and structures, and are a widespread nuisance and major cause of structural damage. One of the most familiar species associated with human habitation in the United States is the black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus).

Nests can often be found by searching for the moisture condition their nest requires. If the nest cannot be found, a baiting routine is often the best way to combat this issue. Homeowners can take several preventative steps for their property including:

  • Correct any moisture problems, leaking roofs, gaps in siding, clogged gutters or faulty plumbing.

  • Trim shrubbery and trees away from the house.

  • Replace water-damaged or decayed wood. Wood should not be in contact with soil.

  • Remove stumps and dead trees. A 50-foot cleared perimeter around the house is recommended.

  • Repair broken branches and any other damage or holes in live trees.

  • Store firewood away from the house, preferably off the ground. Examine and discard heavily infested pieces.

  • If you are seeing large (1/4 inch) ants inside your home, call us today for an inspection/evaluation

Pavement Ants

The pavement ant is dark brown to blackish, and 2.5–4 mm long. Like other ants there are the workers, alates, and a queen. Alates, or new queen ants and drones, have wings, and are at least twice as large as the workers.

The drone's only job is to mate with the virgin Alates, and reproduction is at its highest in spring and summer. like many other ants have nuptial flights where drones fly high up in the air and mate with new queens. The dealate, or newly fertilized slate, finds a suitable nesting location and digs a founding chamber called the clausteral chamber/cell. As the eggs hatch and the ants develop they will spend that time, about two to three months, tending to the queen of their colony. They will continue helping in the colony until they are a month old.

Older workers hunt and defend the colony. They will eat almost anything, including insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, nuts, ice cream and cheese.

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​During early spring, colonies attempt to conquer new areas and often attack nearby enemy colonies. These result in huge sidewalk battles, sometimes leaving thousands of ants dead. Because of their aggressive nature, they often invade and colonize seemingly impenetrable areas outside their native range. In summer, the ants dig out the sand in between the pavements to vent the nests.

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