With their strong mandibles, Carpenter Ants build their nests by chewing and hollowing out wood. Unlike termites, however, they do not consume wood. In nature these ants hollow out trees and prefer dead and damp wood. However, in urban environments they have become a nuisance as they can cause major structural damage to buildings.

The ants are attracted to sweet and greasy substances, and rarely come into contact with humans. Signs of their infestation include sawdust, wet wood or unusual noises coming from walls.