Carpenter Ant Alate

Damp or decaying wood, forest floors, and wooden structures inside homes.

Opportunistic omnivores that eat nectar, honeydew, and other insects; inside homes, they seek sweets and proteins.

This winged individual is a 'reproductive' or 'alate' participating in a nuptial flight to mate and establish a new colony. They do not eat wood but excavate it to build nests.

They can cause structural damage to buildings by tunneling through wood. However, in the ecosystem, they aid in wood decomposition and provide a food source for other animals.