Black Carpenter Ant (Queen with Workers)

Typically found in forested areas, nesting in dead wood, hollow logs, tree stumps, and sometimes in structural wood in buildings.

Omnivorous; they consume plant juices, honeydew from aphids, other insects, and sugary or protein-rich food scraps found in human environments.

They do not eat wood but excavate it to build nests. They are mostly nocturnal and exhibit a complex social structure with a founding queen, as seen in this test tube setup tending to her first brood (nanitics).

Benefits include aerating soil and aiding in the decomposition of dead wood. Risks include potential structural damage to wooden buildings if a large colony establishes itself inside damp wood.