Page 73 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 73
penter Ant
(Formicidae)
Description Carpenter ants do not eat wood but
they do chew holes in it to make
Carpenter ants are social nests and colonies. This can cause
insects and live in colonies damage to wood structures.
where a queen lays all the
eggs. The work is divided
among different groups of
ants. Most of the queen’s
babies are females which
become worker ants that
do not reproduce. The
major workers, which are
larger, defend the nest
and forage for food. Minor
workers care for the young
and maintain the nest. A few babies
are males and others become
new queens. Each queen ant can
lay thousands of eggs per year.
Carpenter ants are mostly black and
range from 0.6 to 1.2 centimeters
long. The queen can be almost 2
centimeters long.
Distribution and Habitat
Carpenter ants live in dead wood such as fallen trees, stumps and even
houses. They are found in all five physiographic provinces.
Role in Food Web
Some species of carpenter ants are carnivores and eat eggs, other insects,
small animals and dead meat. Others are herbivores and eat seeds, fungi,
nectar and honeydew (a type of secretion formed by aphids). Predators
include birds (especially woodpeckers), bears, toads, spiders and other
insects.
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(Formicidae)
Description Carpenter ants do not eat wood but
they do chew holes in it to make
Carpenter ants are social nests and colonies. This can cause
insects and live in colonies damage to wood structures.
where a queen lays all the
eggs. The work is divided
among different groups of
ants. Most of the queen’s
babies are females which
become worker ants that
do not reproduce. The
major workers, which are
larger, defend the nest
and forage for food. Minor
workers care for the young
and maintain the nest. A few babies
are males and others become
new queens. Each queen ant can
lay thousands of eggs per year.
Carpenter ants are mostly black and
range from 0.6 to 1.2 centimeters
long. The queen can be almost 2
centimeters long.
Distribution and Habitat
Carpenter ants live in dead wood such as fallen trees, stumps and even
houses. They are found in all five physiographic provinces.
Role in Food Web
Some species of carpenter ants are carnivores and eat eggs, other insects,
small animals and dead meat. Others are herbivores and eat seeds, fungi,
nectar and honeydew (a type of secretion formed by aphids). Predators
include birds (especially woodpeckers), bears, toads, spiders and other
insects.
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