Black Carpenter Ant

Woodlands, forest edges, and suburban areas; nests typically in dead wood, logs, or structural timber of homes.

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

Highly organized social structure; they hollow out galleries in wood to build nests. They are most active at night and utilize chemical trails for foraging.

Risk: Can cause structural damage to buildings by nesting in wood. Benefit: Vital decomposers in ecosystems, breaking down dead trees and recycling nutrients.