Carpenter Ants in Minnesota: How to Identify, Prevent, and Treat Infestations

10 Jun 2025

Spring and the pesky carpenter ants go hand in hand. Carpenter ants roaming out in the woods are fine, but carpenter ants in house situations bring up concerns. The good news is that before this concern comes up, you can have a preventive carpenter ant treatment done to protect your property. Here is what you need to know about how to get rid of carpenter ants and prevent them from coming back.

What Are Carpenter Ants?

Carpenter ants may be all black or red and black. The different cast members may be different sizes, but even the smaller carpenter ants are large. They have a single node between their abdomen and thorax. Carpenter ants have an evenly rounded thorax. Would a carpenter ant bite hurt? Yes, but they are unlikely to bite. They love to bite and rip out wood to make their home, but they will only bite people if forced into a high-pressure defense situation.

Here are some pictures of carpenter ants to help you visualize the culprits.

A close-up, high-angle shot captures a large, black ant with a segmented body and prominent antennae. Its body has a slightly iridescent sheen, and its abdomen is noticeably lighter in color, appearing brownish or gold with fine hairs. The ant is positioned on a translucent, possibly plastic, surface with visible scratches and reflections. — A single carpenter Ant

A very close-up, low-angle shot shows a narrow crevice or gap at the base of a reddish-brown structure, possibly a wall or beam. The crevice is filled with a mixture of dark debris, small white particles, and what appear to be insect fragments or droppings. The surface directly below the crevice is a lighter gray or concrete color, also covered with some debris and speckled with reddish-brown stains or textures. The focus is sharp on the debris within the crevice. — Carpenter Ants busy at work in a playhouse

Signs of Carpenter Ants in Your House

The most obvious sign of carpenter ants in your house is seeing them crawling around. This is usually what leads to a deeper investigation that uncovers the damage they have caused. Carpenter ants damage wood by ripping out chunks of softened wood to make their galleries. This is why they will be more likely to target areas around windows or doors where moisture collects and weakens wood over time. It is also common to have carpenter ants and fungus developing around the same area.

Other carpenter ants signs include piles of frass, or carpenter ants droppings, such as small chunks of wood or bits of insects that compile below areas they are busy out of sight. Carpenter ant frass will be chunkier than something from a powder post beetle, especially with the insect parts taken into account.

What Does Carpenter Ant Damage Look Like?

If you see signs of carpenter ants in house structures, you may have to peel back some layers to see the damage. Carpenter ant damage will look like a series of horizontal tunnels connected with vertical passages in the grains of the wood. In some cases, the galleries may be relatively clean and smooth. In many other cases, it will be a crumbly mess of weak wood.

A very close-up, vertical shot shows a section of severely damaged and hollowed-out wood, possibly a tree stump or log, serving as a nest for numerous dark ants. The wood is fragmented and appears decayed, with channels and tunnels carved out. Many ants with reddish-brown bodies are actively crawling over the exposed wood and the surrounding soil-like material and fine root structures. Sunlight illuminates the scene, highlighting the details of the ants and the damaged wood.

A severely damaged and decaying wooden beam or structure, likely outdoors, is shown in close-up. The top portion is splintered and crumbling, exposing light-colored, deteriorated wood. Below this, the wood appears darker and is heavily stained with green and black discoloration, suggesting mold or algae growth and significant moisture damage. Several small, dark ants are visible crawling on the surface of the reddish-brown wood beam below the damaged section. The background is blurred, showing hints of green foliage.

How to Identify a Carpenter Ant Infestation

The most important part of determining that carpenter ants are the culprits is to find an ant and identify it. Simply seeing damage does not necessarily indicate that ants are present. Carpenter ants are often most active at night. Identification typically begins with conducive conditions and proceeds with locating the workers.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants in Minnesota

How do you get rid of carpenter ants? Carpenter ants pest control starts with moisture management. Reduce the moisture issue and replace the damaged wood. In some cases, they will be taking advantage of a hollow that can be caulked or sealed up so the void is inaccessible to them.

After focusing on habitat, reduce their food source. Carpenter ants love to feed on the sweet excretions of aphids. If there is an aphid issue, taking care of it will reduce the draw for the carpenter ants. Also, check for other similar food sources that they may find within the home.

How To Prevent Carpenter Ants With Rove Pest Control

Rove’s carpenter ant experts have the service support whether you are in need of carpenter ants extermination or prevention. Routine inspections will identify conducive conditions that can be adjusted before they turn into an issue. Additionally, the carpenter ant experts can apply a combination of sprays, baits, dusts, and granules to get the right product for each situation. Get your carpenter ant control scheduled today.