Carpenter Ants vs. Regular Ants — What’s the Difference

Quick comparison: Carpenter Ants vs. Regular Ants

• Carpenter ants nest in moist/ decaying wood
• Little black house ants nest in wood, soil or under stones
• Little black ants are mostly harmless, but like  carpenter ants they can transfer bacteria
• Carpenter ants are ¼ to ½  inch long; black, red or a bit of both
• Little black house ants are slim, 1/16 inch long, black or brown

The Difference Between Carpenter Ants and Regular Ants

They both have the same basic shape and can appear black: so identifying individual species is difficult, especially when they’re always moving. But different appearance, nests, behavior and the damage they can cause have distinct differences. So it’s easy to compare, we’ll look at carpenter ants and the little black house ant, a common black ant species.

Carpenter Ant

• Appearance — ¼ to ½ inch long; black, red or bicolored; large round thorax, narrow waist and bent antennae
• Habitat — nests inside moist or decaying wood, like walls, beams, window frames, and tree stumps
• Behavior — nocturnal forager, excavates wood, but doesn’t eat it, to build galleries
• Risks — can cause structural damage if left untreated

Little Black House Ant

• Appearance — black or dark brown, slim, 1/16 inch long, with two-segmented waist
• Habitat — nests in soil, under stones, in woodwork and inside wall voids
• Behavior — queens reproduce, workers forage and care for the young, soldiers defend the nest
• Risks — mostly a nuisance, but can contaminate food with Salmonella and Streptococcus

Signs of an Infestation

You may spot trails of ants, or winged ants indoors, especially after rain. Or you may see small piles of sawdust-like frass, or hear rustling sounds inside walls. These are all signs that you have an infestation.

Prevention Tips

Preventing ants is the same as preventing most pests: Seal all cracks around windows, doors, and foundations. Store food in airtight containers, immediately clean up crumbs and spills. Clear standing water and fix leaky pipes, and faucets.