Carpenter Ants are nocturnal.

They usually nest outside in moist wood or partially decayed wood.
They prefer to hollow out their nests in softened wood. Their nests are called
"galleries." These galleries are clean and have a sandpaper appearance.

In comparison, termite galleries are rough looking.
Wood that has been damaged by carpenter ants contain no mud-like material, as is the case with termites.

Florida carpenter ants' nests are commonly found in such places as moist, hollow
spaces like the wall void behind dishwashers.
Nests are usually found in areas
where water leakage could occur, such as around bathtubs, sinks, roof leaks,
poorly flashed chimneys, or poorly sealed windows or door frames. Outdoor nest
are found in places like tree stumps, hollow logs, fence posts or dead portions
of standing trees.
However, theses persistent creatures can build nests in
cracks and crevices of sound wood.

They may establish nests in a number of different locations.
It is important to understand than you can have both inside and outside nests.
Carpenter Ants construct two different kinds of nests: parent colonies which,
when mature, contain an egg-laying queen, a brood, 2,000 or more worker ants,
and satellite colonies, which may have large numbers of worker ants, but no
queen, eggs or larvae.
For example, the ones found in your home may have originated from parent nests outdoors,
perhaps in a tree stump, timber or woodpile, or from one or more satellite nests
hidden behind a wall in the kitchen or bathroom, or perhaps from wood dampened
by a roof leak in the attic.
Although large carpenter ant colonies can cause structural damage,
the damage is not normally as serious as termite damage.

Because Carpenter Ants forage primarily at night, inspections should be made in the evening
or early morning to locate foraging trails and nest sites.

The workers have been known to travel as far as 100 yards from the colony
to search for food and water.

A thorough inspection is important to find all the sites.
Don't conclude your inspection when one colony is found;
several colonies may be present in and around the structure.

Inspect wooden structures associated with high moisture,
where there may be water damage that produces softened wood.

Carpenter Ants prefer frames and sills of windows and doors,
as well as tub enclosure walls, and kitchen and bath plumbing walls.

After sunset is a good time of day to see carpenter ants when their activity increases,
particularly in the spring and summer.

You may want to use a flashlight to observe any obvious
trails and patterns.

To locate their nests' sites, focus on these areas:

INDOORS
* Moisture problems * Wall voids
* Attics (especially under roofing and insulation)
* Flooring or sub flooring
*Ceilings
*Windows
*Skylights
*Hollow doors
*Dishwashers
*Trash compactors
*Plumbing, pipe chases(kitchen/bath) OUTDOORS
*Trees
*Stumps/ dead trees
*Landscape timbers
*Woodpiles and fences
*Leaf litter
*Debris piles
*Mulch beds
*Door kick plates
*Roof lines and gutters
*Soffits and vents
*Windows and door frames
*Utility entrances( electric, cable, TV, telephone, gas lines)
*Sheds and doghouses
*Trash containers

1. How long have you noticed the problem?

A long history of activity indicates a colony located in the structure.
In northern regions, activity indoors during colder weather is strong
evidence that a colony is located in the structure.

2. How many ants do you see?

Seeing many ants frequently indicates an indoor colony.
If you see them only occasionally, they may be
random foragers coming in form the outside.

3. Where are Carpenter Ants seen most often?

This will provide a clue to where
Carpenter Ants are foraging and nesting.

4. Have you seen any small piles that look like sawdust?

Frass piles are usually located close to nest sites

5. Have you had any water leaks or noticed any rotting wood ?
If so where?

Carpenter Ants often nest in moist or rotting wood.
You should inspect these areas first.
Carpenter Ants prefer to nest in moist environments.

6. Conduct inspections in the evening or early morning.

Carpenter Ants are more active at night, so you're more likely to
observe foraging activity and find the nest.

7. Inspect "lines".

Foraging ants like to travel on fence lines,
phone lines, roof lines,railings ,
as well as driveway / sidewalk borders and edges.

8. Knock on wood near suspected nest sites.

Look and listen for activity.
Carpenter ants sound like crinkling cellophane.

9. Check frass piles for materials such as wood,
insulating, plastic, etc.

Frass material will help indicate specific nest locations.

10. Look for plastic vapor barriers under mulch beds.

Ants trail or nest under the plastic film.

11. Follow foraging ants carrying the food particles.

They're heading back to the nest.
Place food in the ants' path, then follow
them back to their nests.

12. Be mindful of weather conditions during the inspections.

They rarely forage if temperatures
are below 55 degrees F.

13. Inspect trees and dead wood.

They tend to nest in tree holes and dead wood
on the ground.

14. Inspect outdoor plants for aphids.

They like to feed on honeydew.

15. Look for tree branches, shrubs and vines
against the buildings.

Branches and vines provide easy access.

Many times you can see what looks like sawdust near their galleries. This sawdust or frass, is shredded fragments of wood that has been ejected from the galleries. This is a good indication that a nest is nearby. But sometimes this evidence is undetectable, but using a screwdriver to probe the wood near a suspicious are may reveal the excavated galleries. Also, you use the blunt end of the screwdriver to tap along baseboards and other wood surfaces, listening for the hollow sound of damaged wood. If a nest is nearby, often the carpenter ants will respond by making a rustling sound within the nest, similar to the sound of crinkling cellopha