To the untrained eye, all ants look alike. The only major difference will be size and color. However, even to the trained eye, it can be challenging to distinguish black ants from carpenter ants.
These small insects look quite similar on a physical level, but they are quite unique when it comes to everything else. In this article, we break down every aspect of these two ants and uncover how they differ.
Genus
The first and most prominent difference between black ants and carpenter ants is the genus. The genus plays a role in every other characteristic of the ants.
Black ants are from the Lasius genus, while carpenter ants are from the Camponotus genus.
Physical Appearance
The physical appearance of the two ants confuses most people. Black ants are always plain, dark black. Carpenter ants can be black, brown, dark brown, or black and brown. Some carpenter ants varieties can even be red, which makes them look a lot like fire ants.
The black ant is much smaller than the average carpenter ant, which is also one of the largest ant species. Black ants will be 3-5 mm long, while carpenter ants can be 6-12 mm in length. Naturally, this leads to a difference in body weight between the two ants.
In both species of ants, worker ants tend to be the smallest, while males and queens are the largest. However, carpenter ant workers are larger than black ant workers.
The structure and shape of the body also differ between these ants. One of the main features of the carpenter ant is the heart-shaped head, while black ants have a round head. However, you would need to look at them under a microscope to see this difference in head shape.
Carpenter ants have two connecting body parts between their head and thorax, while the black ant only has a single connecting part. Overall, the carpenter ant is uniformly shaped, while the black ant is more unevenly shaped.
Habitat
Carpenter ants (as their name implies) love wooden structures and especially moist wood. However, they don’t eat wood – it is their preferred habitat. The carpenter ant nest is built in hollow wood or tree branches, but ideally one with plenty of moisture, as they can lay eggs and keep them healthy in a humid environment.
On the other hand, black ants prefer to build their nests outside in places like under a big rock, under the patio, or any other discreet location in the open air. The good thing about black ants is that they will only come into your home to forage resources. They very rarely develop a nest indoors. Both ants have very different nesting habits.
Black ants develop a single ‘type’ of nest. This is the nest where the queen lives, where eggs are laid, and where the workers live. Carpenter ants usually have a parent nest and several satellite nests. The parent nest is where the queen resides and the eggs are laid, while the satellite nests are where workers and males will live and carry out their operations.
Behavior
Carpenter ant vs. black ant behavior is also quite different. Black ants are foragers who will enter your property just to find resources. They will have a nest set up close to the property, and they will explore the property, both inside and out, for resources.
Carpenter ants are a little different because of their ability to set up satellite nests. The main parent nest may be outside, but they can set up satellite nests within your home. Because of their love for wood, wooden structures are often the target.
Things like walls, doors, countertops, and even furniture are unsafe when carpenter ants are around. Ask any pest control expert, and they will tell you that carpenter ants are a nightmare to deal with because of the places they can get into to start making their nest.
Diet
Dietary patterns between these two species of ants are very similar. Some people look at the sawdust piles created by carpenter ants and think they are eating wood, but in reality, they are just creating space to make their nests. Black ants and carpenter ants both prefer to eat sugary foods like honeydew.
The only major difference is that black ants can also eat protein-rich foods, whereas carpenter ants will eat only carbs. Black ants can even be attracted to things like pet food in a house.
A common problem for homeowners is protecting their food from ants. One quick and easy solution, especially for food that is in storage, is to add diatomaceous earth. This will extend the food’s life and make it less attractive to ants and other common pests.
Lifecycle
One of the key differences in these ants is their lifecycle. Contrary to popular belief, the common black ant has a very long life and can live up to 15 years. The male carpenter ant dies after mating and will only last up to 10 months in a suitable environment.
Since carpenter ants live such short lives, developing a big colony takes them much longer. Black ants can live for years, so they don’t need to reproduce as fast or have a large colony size.
Colonies
Carpenter ant nests are more challenging to deal with than black ant nests. Carpenter ants house a lot more ants (5000-6000 ants vs. 2000-3000 for black ants), carpenter ants typically develop multiple nests on a single property, and they also tend to have nests inside and outside the property.
When dealing with either of these ants, it is often best to get professional pest control services rather than trying to do it yourself.
Conclusion
Carpenter ants and black ants share some common features, but they are different threats to the average homeowner. Generally, black ants are not as destructive as carpenter ants. In the case of an infestation, your best bet is to detect the issue early on and find the main nest as soon as possible.
A heavy infestation of either of these ants can be dangerous. Look for the common signs of an ant infestation and have an expert help you out in extermination.
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