A lot of people have ants in and around their homes, but not all ants are the same. Black ants and carpenter ants are two types of ants that people see most often. At first glance, they may look the same, but there are big differences between the two. For effective pest control and protection, you need to be able to tell the difference between black ants and carpenter ants. In this piece, we’ll look at the most important things these ants do and how they look to help you tell them apart.
Size and colour: Both black ants and carpenter ants tend to be dark, which can make it hard to tell them apart. But if you look closely, you will see clear changes in size. Most black ants are smaller, about 2 to 3 mm long, while carpenter ants can be anywhere from 6 to 13 mm long.
Body Structure: Both black ants and carpenter ants have different bodies. Black ants only have one node, which is the small, pinched waist that divides the thorax and abdomen. On the other hand, carpenter ants have a petiole (the waist) that is made up of two segments. This makes their bodies look stronger.
3. Antennae: You must look at the antennae to tell the difference between black ants and carpenter ants. Carpenter ants have antennae that are bent or elbowed, which makes them stand out. Black ants’ antennae are straight and don’t have any segments.
4. How they build their nests: This may be the most important difference between black ants and carpenter ants. Most of the time, black ants make small nests in the dirt or in the spaces between walls. They don’t do much damage and are more of a bother when they come into homes looking for food.
On the other hand, carpenter ants are known for their ability to destroy wood. They dig holes and tunnels in rotting or wet wood to make their nests. If you see piles of sawdust (frass) near wooden buildings, it means that carpenter ants are living there.
5. How they eat: Black ants are omnivores, which means they eat all kinds of things, like sweets, proteins, and fats. Most of the time, they are drawn to sweet things and will easily get into kitchens and cupboards.
Carpenter ants mostly eat other insects, plant parts, and food from around the house. They don’t eat wood, though. Instead, they dig holes in wood to make nests, which damages the structure over time.
6. Activity Patterns: Black ants are busy all year and can be found looking for food both inside and outside. They aren’t often seen in big groups, and they usually stick to well-marked paths.
Carpenter ants are mostly active at night and do most of their work then. You might see them looking for food in the evening or early in the morning. If you see a lot of ants moving around at night, it could mean that you have an infestation of carpenter ants.
7. Reproductive Ants with Wings: Both black ants and carpenter ants make reproductive ants with wings, which are often called “swarmers,” at certain times of the year. These swarmers leave their groups to mate and start new ones. But compared to black ant swarmers, carpenter ant swarmers are a lot bigger.
Even though both black ants and carpenter ants are dark in colour, they are different in size, body shape, nesting habits, eating habits, and activity patterns. Correctly finding these ant species is important if you want to get rid of them in a targeted way. If you think you have carpenter ants, especially because they can cause damage to structures, you should call a professional pest control service. If you can figure out what kind of ant it is and take action quickly, you can keep it from coming into your home and eating wood.
