Did you know carpenter ants can actually live for YEARS without you noticing, quietly making themselves at home? So if you hear rustling in the walls or see a few ants on the counter, don’t panic. This guide will be your go-to for spotting these sneaky ants, figuring out why they’ve moved in, and deciding if you can handle the situation yourself or need to call in the pros.

Learning the Basics

“What kind of ant is this?”

Nine times out of ten, if it’s large, red and black, and showing up around damp areas, you’re dealing with a Florida carpenter ant.

Carpenter ants are easy to spot. Most worker ants you’ll see around the house are 5 to 10 millimeters long, but the queen can grow to nearly 20 millimeters. They have a red thorax and black abdomen, making them stand out, especially against light walls or counters. They also have bent, 12-segmented antennae with no club at the end.

A quick tip.

Their rounded thorax (the smooth, curved part on their back) is a clear sign they’re not termites or other ants. It’s easy to get them mixed up since both can be large, have wings, and hang around wood, but that’s where the similarities stop.

Here’s how you can tell them apart:

Photo Source -> Mississippi State University Extension

Frass vs. Mud Tubes: Carpenter ants leave behind small piles of frass, which looks like sawdust. Termites, on the other hand, construct mud tubes to protect themselves as they travel.
Waist Shape: Carpenter ants have a pinched waist, almost like an hourglass. Termites have no waist at all; their bodies are straight and uniform.
Antennae: Ants have bent, elbowed antennae, while termites’ are straight.
Wings: Termite wings are all the same size. Carpenter ants have two sets of wings, but the front pair is larger than the back.

Where Do Florida Carpenter Ants Live?

Carpenter ants are attracted to moist, decaying wood, so they love places like attics, walls, and crawlspaces. They usually have satellite nests, smaller colonies that branch off from a main nest outside, like in palm trees or under decks. This can make it seem like your home is the main target, but it's just part of a bigger system. These ants can travel up to 100 yards, so you might spot them in your kitchen or bathroom, while their real nest is far away. And even if you don’t see water damage, they’ll still nest in quiet, undisturbed spots if they feel safe and stable.

What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?

If carpenter ants were food critics, their reviews would be all about sweets and protein-packed meals. Unlike termites, they don’t actually eat wood, they just chew through it to build their nests (rude, right?).

Instead, their menu consists of sugary substances like honeydew from aphids, fruit juices, and even the crumbs left behind from your midnight snack. They’re also big fans of protein, meaning they’ll gladly munch on insects or anything meaty they can find.

So, if you’ve got a carpenter ant problem, it might be time to check what’s on your kitchen counter.

Helpful Resource -> What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?

Are Carpenter Ants Harmful or Helpful?

Like most creatures in nature, carpenter ants play both a helpful and a not-so-helpful role. On one hand, they contribute to ecosystems by breaking down decaying wood, making room for new growth. On the other, when they set up camp in your home, they can cause structural damage that’s anything but helpful.

So, how do you know if these little architects have moved in? Here are some key warning signs to watch for:

Rustling or crinkling sounds in walls at night: Carpenter ants are nocturnal and active after dark. If your home is quiet and you hear faint movement in the walls, there could be a colony at work.
Piles of sawdust-like debris (frass): Carpenter ants push out wood shavings as they tunnel through to build nests. You’ll often find this frass beneath baseboards, window frames, or near other wooden structures.
Winged ants indoors during spring or summer: These are reproductive swarmers. Their appearance usually means there’s a mature colony either inside your home or extremely close to it.
Foraging ants in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry areas: These spaces offer moisture and food: two major attractants. If you spot ants frequently in the same areas, they’re likely leading you back to their nest.

When They Become a Problem

Most of the time, carpenter ants are just out there doing their thing; breaking down decaying wood and keeping the ecosystem in check. But when they decide your home is the perfect place to expand their real estate, that’s when the problems start.

So, how do you deal with them before they turn your home into their personal construction site?

DIY Treatment Options

Advance Granular Ant Bait
Maxforce Carpenter Ant Gel
Boric Acid Dust

While DIY treatments can work, we often visit homes where they’ve only scratched the surface of the problem. If you’re seeing these challenges, you’re not alone:

Ants ignoring the bait? You might be using the wrong type. Carpenter ants switch between sugar and protein cravings. If you’re offering one and they’re craving the other, they won’t touch it.
Still seeing ants even after treatment? You may be dealing with a satellite nest inside your walls or ceiling, which DIY baits don’t always reach. Surface-level treatment rarely penetrates deep enough to hit the queen or central brood.

After treating a home for carpenter ants, the next step is prevention. The good news? You can keep them from coming back.

The best way to keep them out is by making physical changes to your home that block entry and remove nesting spots:

Seal any cracks or gaps – Check around windows, doors, vents, and plumbing. Even small openings can be an open door for ants.
Replace damaged or rotting wood – Carpenter ants love decayed wood. Fix problem areas quickly, especially around decks, siding, and fascia boards.
Clear out tree stumps and trim branches – Ants often start in the yard. If tree limbs touch your house, they can use them as a bridge inside.

Coexist or Control?

Not all carpenter ants are bad.

Outside, they help break down decaying wood and play a key role in nature. But when they move into your home and start nesting, that’s when problems begin.

We suggest trying some DIY fixes first, but if you’re still seeing ants after 7–10 days, can’t find the nest, or aren’t sure if they’re ants or termites, it might be time to call in a professional ant control.

They have the right tools and methods to handle the issue and do a full inspection to catch any bigger problems, like leaks or wood damage. Plus, managing food, moisture, and airflow in your home is key to keeping ants away for good.