Carpenter ants and termites are similar in several ways. They can be about the same size and damage buildings because they burrow into wood. Both types of insects also swarm to mate during the spring. After taking a closer look, however, you can see that they differ significantly.
Carpenter Ants
As one of the largest types of ants in the United States, carpenter ants measure 0.13 to 0.5 inches long. Most species are black, while others can be red, yellow, light or dark brown, or orange. Some species are even black and red. The large mandibles that the workers have are another way to identify these insects. However, they're most identifiable by their cinched waist, bent antennae and longer front wings.
Decayed wood is the preferred nesting material for all carpenter ants. Nests that remain active for years can cause severe damage. One colony can spread to satellite colonies nearby. Following......
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