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Home / Ants / Carpenter Ant
Red and Black Carpenter Ant
As their name suggests, red and black carpenter ants have brownish-black bodies, black gasters and reddish-brown thoraxes. Popularly known as the Florida carpenter ant due to the large population present in the state, these multi-colored ants measure between seven and 20 millimeters in length and are one of the largest ant species worldwide. Red and black carpenter ant workers may vary in size from five to 11 millimeters long, while winged females can reach up to 20 millimeters in length.
The antennae of red and black carpenter ants are twelve-segmented. The terminal segment is bullet-shaped, slightly elongated and has no club. The antennal scape is broad and flattened basally throughout. The waist of a red and black carpenter ant consists of one petiole segment (node), and the tip of their abdomen has a circular ring of hairs. Black and red carpenter ants have long, golden body hairs.
A key characteristic of all carpenter ants can be seen in the Florida species: their thorax is evenly convex. Sexually active male carpenter ants are smaller than the queens, but have proportionally smaller heads and larger wings. Both male and female winged forms possess two pairs of wings, which are unequal in size.
As with all carpenter ant species, black and red carpenter ants develop through complete metamorphosis from egg to larvae to pupae and adult. Parent colonies have a single queen, brood and about 2,000 workers, while satellite colonies have no egg-laying queens, larvae or eggs, but contain thousands of workers. Satellite colonies of black and red carpenter ants are often located 10 to 100 feet from the parent colony.
Red and black carpenter ants eat a variety of dead and living plants and insects, as well as sweets, honeydew, meats and other household items. These ants are nocturnal and forage for food at night. Like other species of carpenter ants, the red and black carpenter ant prefers to nest in partially decayed wood, moist areas and other structures that offer consistent temperature, protection from environmental changes and predators. While they have no sting, this ant species can spray formic acid for defense against predators.
Nesting habits of these two-colored ants are similar to other carpenter ant species. They tend to choose areas with moisture problems, such as attics and ceilings, carpets and flooring, windows, doors, trees and shrubs, woodpiles, plumbing, electrical and other utility entries, gutters, vents, trashcans and sheds or doghouses.
Carpenter Ant Identification: How to Identify a Carpenter Ant
What Does a Carpenter Ant Look Like?
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