This pie chart shows the relative likelihood of observing particular other species commonly observed near Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Ecology Notes:

Carpenter ants may establish nests in a number of different locations. It is important to realize that these locations can be either inside or outside the structure. Carpenter ants actually construct two different kinds of nests: parent colonies which, when mature, contain an egg-laying queen, brood and 2000 or more worker ants, and satellite colonies which may have large numbers of worker ants but no queen, eggs or young larvae. The carpenter ants inside a home may have originated from the parent colony or from one or more satellite nests. For example, the ants may be coming from the parent nest located outdoors in a tree stump, landscape timber or woodpile, or from one or more satellite nests hidden behind a wall in the kitchen or bathroom, or perhaps from wood dampened by a roof leak in the attic.

The extent and potential damage to a home depends on how many nests are actually present within the structure, and how long the infestation has been active. Although large carpenter ant colonies are capable of causing structural damage, the damage is not normally as serious as that from termites. In some cases, the damage may be relatively insignificant, but this can only be determined by locating and exposing the nest areaMany times, it will be impossible for the homeowner to locate and / or destroy carpenter ant colonies on their property or inside their homes. Pest control companies (what we used to call "exterminators" in a simpler time) take different approaches to eliminating the problem. Some companies expend great energy locating specific nesting sites, and treating only that area. Others take more of a shotgun approach, drilling into walls at various locations and injecting insecticides in hopes of catching any possible nests that may be otherwise missed.

In sections below, we make some habitat inferences based on the known habitat preferences of those species most commonly associated with Camponotus pennsylvanicus.

Zone:

alpine, montane, temperate.

Vegetation:

alluvial woods, boreal forest, broad-leaved forests, coniferous forests, croplands, cultivated areas, deciduous woods and forests, desert, disturbed sites, evergreen forests, fence rows, fields, forest edges, forests, gardens, grasslands, hammocks, hardwood forests, mature forests, meadows, moist woods, montane forests, open forests, pasture, pine forests, rain forest, shrubby vegetation, small trees, swamp forests, thickets, tropical forest, tundra grassland.

Terrain:

dry slopes, flood plains, hillsides, pastureland, roadsides, rock outcrops, streamsides, urban areas, valleys.

Soil and Rock:

clay, limestone, loam, marl, sandy areas, sandy soil, thin soil.

Water in Area:

bays, bogs, brackish water, ditches, dry areas, estuaries, fens, flood plains, lagoon, lakes, marshes, mesic areas, ponds, river banks, rivers, saltwater, shores, stream banks, streams, swamps, swampy areas.

Slopes in Area:

hillsides, ravines, rocky slopes.