SAN ANTONIO AREA SERVICE

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants don't eat wood — they tunnel through it to nest. Texas has several species, but in the San Antonio area you're most likely seeing the black carpenter ant. They're a structural concern over time, not a sting/health concern.

Scientific name: Camponotus pennsylvanicus and related species  Service area: San Antonio + within ~15 miles (Helotes, Stone Oak, Leon Springs, Fair Oaks Ranch).

At a glance

Size	6–13 mm workers; up to 25 mm queens
Color	Black to dark reddish-brown; some species two-tone
Active period	Foragers active dusk–dawn in warm months
Habitat in homes	Moisture-damaged wood: window frames, deck posts, siding, attics near roof leaks
Famous trait	Push out clean sawdust-like "frass" near nest entrances

Identification

Single-segmented petiole (waist), evenly rounded thorax in profile, bent (elbowed) antennae. Large size separates them from sugar ants. Black piles of fine wood shavings near baseboards or window frames are the giveaway.

Risk profile

Structural damage over years. Carpenter ants prefer wood that's already moisture-damaged, so finding them often means there's a leak somewhere. They don't sting but workers can bite.

How we treat it

We locate the parent colony (often in a different building or tree from where you see foragers) and treat directly. Bait stations + non-repellent insecticide along trails. We also flag any moisture issues we find — the long-term fix is fixing the leak.

Towns where we treat this

This is a San Antonio area service. We cover the close-to-office radius (within ~15 miles).