Carpenter Ants (Camponotus)
Learn More About Carpenter Ants
Many people new to the Pacific Northwest are unaware that termite infestations are very rare, unlike the rest of the country. Often, people may think they see termites, but they're actually finding carpenter ants. Carpenter ant control is extremely important in the Seattle area. Carpenter ants are the #1 wood-destroying pest in the Pacific Northwest. Left unchecked, carpenter ant colonies will cause significant damage to sound wood, possibly compromising the structural integrity of a building. If you see big black ants in or around your home, it may be time to call a professional to protect your home's structure.
Big Black Ants
Carpenter ants are fairly easy for an untrained person to identify with the naked eye based on size and color: they are huge and usually black. The most common local species, Camponotus modoc, is “the big black ant.” Although workers vary in size within a colony, even the smallest workers are still larger than most other local ants. Insects have three body segments, and, in C. modoc, all three — the head, thorax, and abdomen — are black. The abdomen may have some silvery bands. The legs are reddish. The second most common species, Camponotus vicinus, has a black head and abdomen, while the thorax has a lighter, usually reddish, color.