Distribution of carpenter ants in USA

Carpenter ants are large ants that live in certain part of the world. They live in tunnels in tree branches.
Carpenter ants live in colonies and you can find Carpenter ants all over the world in temperate regions. Carpenter ants play a considerable role in forests as predators of leaf-eating insects.

Habitat

No matter where you walk – in a meadow, a garden, a forest or a city street- there is one creature you are almost sure to find: An ant. This insect is so common that most people barely notice it as it runs busily about. Ants seem always to be in motion. They build complicated nests with dozens of rooms and tunnels.

Carpenter ants can establish a nest inside a home.

Inside your home, they tend to nest in wet wood, Dead wood, trunks of trees and Electronics.
The Carpenter ants are the most common plague sights in the homes of northern USA. They live in colonies and the main colony must have a constant source of moisture to survive, so it is usually in the dead wood of the house. This includes dead branches, tree holes, and similar places. In interiors, the main colony will be in places with water leaks, or in very humid areas with little ventilation as basements and attics. Other colonies, may be located in hollow doors and empty spaces with enough moisture, as well as between the insulation that is in some penthouses. Ants leave traces between the colony and the main sub colonies Some Scouts can be seen touring these trails at night, when the colony is at its most active state. Sometimes traces can be found below ground along the roots of the trees.

Places Carpenter ants can establish their nest

• Places with moisture problems - Wall voids
• Flooring or sub flooring
• Attics (especially under roofing and insulation)
• Windows
• Ceilings
• Hollow doors
• Trash compactors
• Trees
• Landscape timbers
• Leaf litter
• Skylights
• Dishwashers
• Plumbing, pipe chases (kitchen/bath) OUTDOORS
• Stumps/ dead trees
• Woodpiles and fences
• Mulch beds
• Roof lines and gutters
• Windows and door frames
• Sheds and doghouses
• Debris piles
• Door kick plates
• Utility entrances (cable, electric, TV, telephone,)