The Black Carpenter Ant is the largest ant in eastern North America, with workers reaching half an inch in length. It excavates galleries in dead and damp wood for nesting, occasionally causing structural damage to buildings when wood is moisture-compromised. Despite their size, workers do not sting but can deliver a sharp bite and spray formic acid into the wound.
Best time to see a Black Carpenter Ant
The best time to see a Black Carpenter Ant is April–July, when about 67% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 35,094 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Black Carpenter Ant? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Black Carpenter Ant sightings near you
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