Camponotus pennsylvanicus

While carpenter ants have no notable culinary or commercial uses, their role as structural pests has made them a common subject in pest management discussions. They appear in regional vernaculars, such as "fourmi charpentière" in French and "ameise" in German, reflecting their recognition in various cultures primarily as insects associated with wood damage.

• Carpenter ants do not eat wood but excavate it to form nests.
• They exhibit polymorphism, with workers varying significantly in size within a colony.
• Queens can grow up to 20 mm, much larger than workers.
• They are nocturnal and forage primarily on honeydew and insects.
• Despite their wood nesting, they are resilient to cold but susceptible to drying out.

Carpenter ants typically nest in moist or decaying wood both outdoors and within human structures. They are native to temperate regions of North America, especially eastern forests, where they thrive in wooded environments that provide ample nesting sites.

The carpenter ant undergoes complete metamorphosis with four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Colonies develop over time with queens laying eggs that hatch into larvae, which then pupate before emerging as adult ants. The social structure includes polymorphic workers and reproductive queens, supporting large colony sizes.

Carpenter ants play important roles in forest ecosystems by aiding in the decomposition process through their excavation of dead or decaying wood. As nocturnal predators and scavengers, they help control populations of other insects and contribute to nutrient cycling within their habitats.

While carpenter ants are not currently assessed by conservation organizations and are widespread, they face natural threats such as predation by birds and other insects, as well as environmental stresses like desiccation. Their status as pests often leads to control efforts that impact local populations, but no significant conservation concerns are documented.