Carpenter ants are not just a nuisance — they’re a wood-destroying pest that can quietly cause major damage to homes across Middle Tennessee. Unlike termites, they don’t eat wood — they hollow it out to build their nests, often going unnoticed for months or even years.

Active Seasons

Carpenter ants are most active from spring through early fall, with peak swarming activity in late spring. However, indoor colonies can remain active year-round if the conditions are warm and moist.

Lifespan

• Worker ants live for a few months to a year.

• Queens can live for up to 7 years, continually producing new workers.

Reproduction Rate

Each queen can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs annually. Carpenter ants establish satellite colonies, which means infestations often spread through various parts of the structure — attic, walls, basement, and beyond.

How to Identify

• Size: Larger than most ants (up to ½ inch).

• Color: Typically black, but can also be red or a mix of black and red.

• Behavior: Often seen trailing in long lines, especially at night.

• Signs of infestation:

  • Hollow-sounding wood

  • Sawdust-like material (frass) around baseboards or windowsills

  • Rustling noises in walls or ceilings

  • Sightings of winged ants (especially near windows or lights)

Health Concerns

Carpenter ants don’t bite unless provoked and aren’t a direct health threat, but their presence inside often signals moisture problems or structural vulnerability — both of which can impact indoor air quality and safety.

Property Concerns

• Carpenter ants compromise wood framing, trim, decks, and structural supports.

• Damage is slow and subtle but can become extensive (and expensive) over time.

• Infestations often begin in moisture-damaged wood, making bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and around roof leaks common entry points.

Why You Need Perimeter Pest

Carpenter ants don’t respond to basic ant baits — and surface sprays won’t reach the hidden nests deep in your walls. At Perimeter Pest, we locate the colony (and any satellite nests), eliminate them at the source, and seal off access points to keep them from coming back.

With our local knowledge and tailored treatments, we protect homes across Nashville and surrounding areas from the silent threat of wood damage.

Don’t wait for the damage to show — get ahead of carpenter ants with Perimeter Pest, your Middle Tennessee pest control experts.