Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner    -    James R. Karels, Director

Forest Health > Insects and Diseases publication

INSECTS of... Conifer/Hardwood Branch and Stem

Common Name:

FLORIDA CARPENTER ANT

Carpenter ant damage.
Wood damaged by CARPENTER ANTS.

Other:

 Wood Ants
Species Camponotus abdominalis floridanus
Common Hosts:

Hardwoods
Softwoods
Structural timber of buildings

Description
 Adult -- approximately 6-13 mm long; reddish-yellow head and thorax, black abdomen; elbowed antennae, constricted waist.
Pupa -- size of adult; creamy white.
Larva -- size variable, approximately 10 mm when mature; head and body white; legless.
Importance
 Carpenter ants do not eat wood as do termites — wood is removed to construct galleries for their nests. Ants do feed on honeydew from sap-sucking insects, dead and live insects, and food wastes in and around houses. Generally associated with logs, stumps, dead trees, but will infest structural wood of buildings. First start in the damp rotting wood areas and then extend galleries into sound wood.

Biology and Habits

 Winged male and female ants leave a nest in the spring-summer, mate, and the females establish a nest in suitable wood. The initial progeny of the first female are fed by her; thereafter, succeeding generations care for others. The first female or queen then lays eggs exclusively. A typical nest will contain several thousand individuals, have all developmental stages present, and can exist for several years. Living trees are occasionally infested, but the galleries are usually restricted to the defective portions of the trees.
Number of Generations
 Several generations per year.
Signs of Infestation
 Slits in wood and sawdust borings caught on bark or piled on floors. Galleries across wood grain and free of frass, very smooth walls. Swarm of large red-black ants upon disturbance of nest.
Control
 Remove infested material as soon as possible. Replace structurally damaged timber. Clear all downed timber, rubbing branches, wood wastes from buildings to minimize the chance of wood an infestation. Use an approved insecticide to prevent infestation or control a current problem.
Bulletin No. 196-A | Printed October, 1983 | Contact the Forest Health Section
Division of Forestry Shield
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
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