Carpenter ant (likely)

Wooded areas, gardens, buildings, and wooden decks, especially where timber is damp or weathered.

Omnivorous: feeds on honeydew, nectar, insects, and sugary or protein-rich food. It does not eat wood, but excavates galleries in it for nesting.

Colonies establish a parent nest and satellite nests, often inside structural wood. Workers are usually active at night or in warm conditions and may forage in trails.

Can weaken wood when colonies are large, though they rarely cause rapid structural damage. They help recycle dead wood, aerate soil, and control other insects.