Insects

What to Know About the Carpenter Ant Life Cycle


While their name makes them sound industrious, carpenter ants are more destructive than productive. Learn some helpful facts about the life cycle of this common pest from our Wall NJ exterminator.

Mating Ritual of Carpenter Ants

Late spring and early summer marks swarming season for carpenter ants. Male and female carpenter ants who are candidates for reproduction have wings, which they use to fly out from the colony in search of a mate.

Once couples pair off in midair, the female, or queen, loses her wings. She then locates a small cavity inside wood to use as a chamber where she can give birth. The carpenter ants that emerge from the eggs will eventually become workers in the colony.

Raising the New Generation

While the newly-hatched carpenter ants are developing, the queen feeds them from her own salivary glands. As the small carpenter ants reach adulthood, they begin foraging for food and performing other tasks to maintain the nest. They also take over the job of rearing subsequent broods birthed by the queen.

According to our Wall NJ exterminator, carpenter ants generally don’t create tunnels in wood like termites do. They find pre-existing cavities in rotten or damaged wood. Damage arises when the carpenter ants expand their cavities to accommodate the growing colony.

Turn to Allison Pest Control for Quality Wall NJ Exterminator Services

Carpenter ants, bed bugs, rodents and other pests are no match for our Wall NJ exterminator. Contact us for a free pest inspection by our cheerful and experienced technicians.

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