Carpenter Ants

Size: up to 1 inch
Colour: reddish-brown to black

Carpenter ants are one of the most common wood-destroying pests found throughout Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood—they excavate tunnels and galleries inside wood to create nesting areas. They are often attracted to damp, damaged, or decaying wood around homes and buildings.

Carpenter ants commonly nest in areas such as roof structures, decks, fences, window frames, wall voids, and areas where moisture has caused wood damage. They can also establish satellite nests indoors, travelling through small cracks and openings in search of food sources such as sugar, pet food, insects, and other organic materials.

Signs of carpenter ants may include seeing large black ants inside your home, finding piles of sawdust-like material (called frass) near nesting areas, hearing rustling sounds inside walls, or noticing increased activity around damp areas of your property.

While carpenter ants do not typically cause the same level of structural damage as termites, established colonies can damage weakened wood over time and may indicate underlying moisture concerns. Early identification and treatment are important to prevent colonies from expanding.

At PreventX, our technicians inspect for nesting locations, identify contributing factors, and develop a targeted treatment plan using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles to eliminate carpenter ants and help prevent future infestations.