Carpenter ants are large ants, measuring between 0.25 to 1 inch (0.63 to 2.5 cm), and are found in various regions worldwide. They prefer nesting in dead, damp wood, though they do not consume it like termites. Instead, they hollow out sections of wood to create their nests. The Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is the most common species infesting homes in the U.S., but there are over a thousand species within the Camponotus genus.

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These ants thrive in moist, decaying, or hollow wood both indoors and outdoors. They create smooth tunnels, or "galleries," within the wood to move between sections of their nest. Areas like windows, roof eaves, porches, and decks are particularly susceptible to carpenter ant infestations, as they are more prone to moisture.