Research has shown that North America has nearly 1,000 different species of ants. Scientists named the Black Carpenter Ant in 1773. It was the first ant species to be named in North America.
Most ants should not be considered pests and in fact should be considered to be beneficial insects. Ants play a vital role in recycling nutrients, aerating the soil, preying on insect pests, and even becoming a meal source for other types of insects or wildlife. Ant species can range significantly in size. Some ants can be an about inch, while other ants are as small as the head of a pin.
Carpenter ants are the largest ant in North America. There are approximately 50 different carpenter ant species that exist within North America.
The onset of a carpenter ant nest begins in midair when a male and female winged reproductive engage in a mating ritual. After mating, the female will fall to the ground, drop her wings and look for a cavity in a piece of wood. There she will seal herself inside as she lays her eggs and awaits the birth of her first small brood of ants. After their arrival, she will feed these new worker carpenter ants until they are able to forage for food on their own. Before long, the small worker ants will become adult carpenter ants, which will begin to build and take care of the new nest.
There are ongoing debates as to whether or not carpenter ants initially attack sound wood or if they wood is attacked only after damaged wood is attacked first and new space is needed by the colony. No matter which theory is correct, millions of dollars are spent each year in the US on controlling carpenter ants and repairing the damage that they cause. It is always best to contact a Monmouth County, NJ exterminator when carpenter ants are present in any type of structure.