Have you spotted little ants walking around on your kitchen counter? Due to their size, you’re most likely dealing with black ants. They’re a common household pest that makes their way in for the food your home has to offer.
If your pests are over half an inch long, you have carpenter ants on your hands. They’re larger and attracted to sugar.
Diet and size are only two differences between these two species of ants. Carpenter ants vs. black ants, which one do you have in your home, and how do you spot them? Check out this quick pest control guide.
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Carpenter Ants vs. Black Ants: Size and Shape
The most apparent difference between carpenter ants and black ants is their size. Tiny ants in kitchen and garden areas are most likely black ants.
Carpenter ants are half an inch or larger in size. Black ants have round heads, whereas carpenter ants have triangular heads.
Carpenter ants don’t have straight antennas. They’re bent slightly, and their abdomen isn’t separated into two sections like most types of ants. Carpenter ants also tend to grow wings during mating season.
Carpenter Ants vs. Black Ants: Diet
Carpenter ants love sweet foods and proteins. They’ll hunt around in your kitchen for fruit and syrups. They’ll also go after wood, but that’s mostly for tunneling and nest-building purposes.
Black ants have a more diverse diet. They often eat any small insects they can get their hands on. Since their favorite snack is aphids, black ants tend to stick around the garden, but they won’t shy away from venturing indoors.
Carpenter Ants vs. Black Ants: Habitat
Carpenter ants live in wet wood. They tunnel through it and make nests out of it. They’ll leave sawdust trails along your doorframes and window sills.
Again, black ants will stick around your garden. They may venture inside if you entice them with food.
Carpenter Ants vs. Black Ants: Destruction
Carpenter ants are harmless at first. They take small chunks out of wood to build their nests. After a while, however, they can weaken your window sills and doorframes.
They won’t stop there. They can cause structural damage to your wooden floors and walls.
Black ants are much more harmless. They’ll serve as a minor annoyance, but that’s about it. They won’t cause any property damage.
Carpenter Ants vs. Black Ants: Behavior
Carpenter ants are nocturnal. They can become aggressive when their homes are threatened, and can be a pain to eradicate.
Black ants are more active during the day. They follow scent trails to find food and work together to bring anything they find back to their home.
Understanding the Many Differences Between Carpenter Ants and Black Ants
Carpenter ants vs. black ants: as you can see, there are many differences between the two species.
Carpenter ants cause more damage and are nocturnal. Black ants are harmless and are more active during the day.
Despite their differences, they do have one thing in common. They don’t belong in your home.
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