Damage to wood caused by carpenter ants (above) is different than the damage to wood caused by subterranean termites. Carpenter ants chew wood with and across the grain, while termites only damage wood with the grain. Furthermore, termites often line their galleries with mud, while carpenter ant galleries are smooth, clean, and devoid of mud and other debris.

Carpenter Ants are so-called because of their habit of chewing wood to create nest sites. They do not eat wood, like termites, but excavate it with their strong, saw-like jaws to create random galleries where they nest. Carpenter ants are also a nuisance because of their abundance and large size.

Ants from a single carpenter ant colony vary in size considerably. As such, ant size alone should not be used for identification.