Risk level: moderate (structural nuisance; indicator of moisture). Carpenter ants are the largest ants you'll commonly see indoors in Tallahassee, and they thrive in our humid, oak-shaded environment.
How to identify them
- Size & color: large (up to half an inch), usually black or dark reddish-black.
- Sign: piles of coarse sawdust-like shavings (frass) containing insect parts, near baseboards, windows or beams.
- Where: moist or previously water-damaged wood — around leaks, decks, window frames, and trees near the house.
Why they matter
Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood — they excavate smooth galleries to nest in, ejecting the debris. Over time this weakens the wood, and because they target moist wood, their presence is often a red flag for a hidden moisture problem (a roof leak, plumbing leak or poor drainage) worth fixing alongside treatment.
What to do
Baiting and locating the nest matter more than spraying trails — and correcting the moisture source is essential to prevent recurrence. If you're finding sawdust with insect parts, it's also worth ruling out termites. See ant control and termite control, or book a free inspection.
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