Carpenter ants make their nests by excavating wood. These ants can best be identified by their large size compared to other ants, as well as their tendency to infest wood.
These ants first nest in damp or wet wood but may build paths through dry undamaged wood. They can enter homes though holes and cracks, as well as overhanging wires or branches. They build nest in various outside wood sources, such as tree stumps, firewood, or landscaping and need a constant water source to survive.