Black Carpenter Ant

Woodlands and suburban areas; nests in moist wood, hollow logs, tree stumps, and structural timbers in homes.

Omnivorous; feeds on plant juices, honeydew from aphids, and other insects. They do not eat wood.

Nocturnal foragers that create smooth galleries in wood to house colonies. They undergo complete metamorphosis with a highly organized social structure.

Benefits the ecosystem by speeding up the decay of dead trees. Risks include structural damage to homes if nests are established in building timbers.