2 Bugs That Look Like Carpenter Ants

1. Eastern Subterranean Termite

The most widespread termite in North America, living in underground colonies and reaching wood through mud tubes. Dark, winged swarmers emerge indoors on warm spring days.

How it differs:

• Group: Carpenter Ant belongs to ants, while eastern subterranean termite belongs to termites. Elbowed antennae and a pinched waist with one or two nodes.
• Size: Carpenter Ants are larger, reaching 13 mm, while eastern subterranean termites top out around 10 mm.
• Wings: Eastern Subterranean Termites have wings, while carpenter ants are usually seen without them.

2. Pavement Ant

A dark brown ant that nests under sidewalks, driveways and slabs, pushing up small piles of sand. Colonies fight noisy battles on pavement in spring.

How it differs:

• Size: Carpenter Ants are larger, reaching 13 mm, while pavement ants top out around 4 mm.
• Color: Carpenter Ants are black and red; pavement ants are brown and black.
• Where found: look for carpenter ants indoors, in woods and along trails, on trees and shrubs and in basements and garages; pavement ants turn up in the kitchen, in basements and garages and in lawns and grass.

Side-by-side comparison

Quick identification checklist

1. Count the legs. Carpenter Ants have 6 legs.
2. Check for wings. Carpenter Ants are usually seen without wings.
3. Measure it. Carpenter Ants are 6–13 mm (up to about 0.51 in).
4. Look for the signature feature: large ant with an evenly rounded, single-arch thorax.
5. Note where you found it. Carpenter Ants are usually indoors, in woods and along trails, on trees and shrubs and in basements and garages.

When you'll see carpenter ants

Carpenter Ants are most active in spring and summer. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.

Typical places to check: indoors, anywhere, woods or trails, trees or shrubs and basement or garage.

About ants

The carpenter ant is one of the ants. Ants live in colonies ruled by one or more egg-laying queens. The workers you see are sterile females foraging for the rest of the colony, so killing visible ants rarely solves anything. Winged ants, called swarmers, appear when a mature colony sends out new kings and queens.

Bait works because workers carry it back and share it with the queen and larvae. Repellent sprays can scatter the colony and make the problem harder to fix.

Are carpenter ants or their lookalikes dangerous?

• Carpenter Ant: Carpenter ants can deliver a painful bite and weaken wood over time, but they do not carry disease.
• Eastern Subterranean Termite: Termites don't bite people but can cause costly structural damage over time.
• Pavement Ant: Pavement ants have a weak sting that rarely bothers people; they are mainly a nuisance.

Frequently asked questions